UN drafts trade embargo on all North’s arms sales

The United Nations Security Council has prepared a draft of a new resolution with tough sanctions against North Korea that would stifle cash flow into the country that defiantly conducted a nuclear test on May 25.

According to a South Korean government source, the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - have agreed to additional sanctions that would place an export embargo on all kinds of weapons. Presently, Resolution 1718 only prohibits North Korea from trading weapons of mass destruction and related materials.

The source said South Korea, a non-member, and Japan, a non-standing Security Council member, joined the United States in pushing for the complete trade embargo on all arms. But after negotiations with China and Russia, two of North Korea’s allies, the Security Council decided to impose the import ban only on WMD and their materials.

“There will be an export ban on all kinds of arms and that should be able to cut a source of foreign currency income for the North,” the source said.

The 15-member Security Council is expected to present the draft of a new resolution for internal circulation. A resolution requires unanimity from the permanent members.

If the sanctions pass the Security Council, North Korea won’t be able to export even pistols, rifles or other small, conventional firearms. According to another government source, exporting weapons is one of North Korea’s major sources of foreign currency income.

“Because of the watchful eyes of the international community, North Korea hasn’t been able to sell missiles or other large arms, and so the new sanctions won’t make major differences there,” the source said. “But if North Korea isn’t allowed to sell even simple weapons, then it will be a devastating blow.”

The proposed sanctions also directly target the North Korean leadership. Importing luxury goods, ranging from expensive wines to sedans and designer watches, would be prohibited under the sanctions.

UN diplomats have said they were considering travel bans, too, and officials who were responsible for the North’s WMD development have been placed on a travel ban list. The list is thought to include Jon Pyong-ho, secretary for ammunition at the ruling Workers’ Party, and Ju Kyu-chang, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission. The two are said to be behind the North’s April 5 rocket launch and last week’s nuclear test.

The source also said the draft on the financial sanctions has been revised without altering its principals, though specifics weren’t immediately available. In 2005, the United States froze about $25 million of North Korean funds at the Banco Delta Asia bank in Macao, but financial sanctions this time would be more of a coordinated effort through the UN.

The support of China, which has been reluctant to approve measures against the North but was unusually angry at the nuclear test, was essential for the draft. Russia, another North Korean ally, was also on the same page with other permanent members, the official said.

“China and Russia are much more willing to impose sanctions than in the past,” a diplomatic source said.
The United Nations Security Council has prepared a draft of a new resolution with tough sanctions against North Korea that would stifle cash flow into the country that defiantly conducted a nuclear test on May 25.

According to a South Korean government source, the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - have agreed to additional sanctions that would place an export embargo on all kinds of weapons. Presently, Resolution 1718 only prohibits North Korea from trading weapons of mass destruction and related materials.

The source said South Korea, a non-member, and Japan, a non-standing Security Council member, joined the United States in pushing for the complete trade embargo on all arms. But after negotiations with China and Russia, two of North Korea’s allies, the Security Council decided to impose the import ban only on WMD and their materials.

“There will be an export ban on all kinds of arms and that should be able to cut a source of foreign currency income for the North,” the source said.

The 15-member Security Council is expected to present the draft of a new resolution for internal circulation. A resolution requires unanimity from the permanent members.

If the sanctions pass the Security Council, North Korea won’t be able to export even pistols, rifles or other small, conventional firearms. According to another government source, exporting weapons is one of North Korea’s major sources of foreign currency income.

“Because of the watchful eyes of the international community, North Korea hasn’t been able to sell missiles or other large arms, and so the new sanctions won’t make major differences there,” the source said. “But if North Korea isn’t allowed to sell even simple weapons, then it will be a devastating blow.”

The proposed sanctions also directly target the North Korean leadership. Importing luxury goods, ranging from expensive wines to sedans and designer watches, would be prohibited under the sanctions.

UN diplomats have said they were considering travel bans, too, and officials who were responsible for the North’s WMD development have been placed on a travel ban list. The list is thought to include Jon Pyong-ho, secretary for ammunition at the ruling Workers’ Party, and Ju Kyu-chang, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission. The two are said to be behind the North’s April 5 rocket launch and last week’s nuclear test.

The source also said the draft on the financial sanctions has been revised without altering its principals, though specifics weren’t immediately available. In 2005, the United States froze about $25 million of North Korean funds at the Banco Delta Asia bank in Macao, but financial sanctions this time would be more of a coordinated effort through the UN.

The support of China, which has been reluctant to approve measures against the North but was unusually angry at the nuclear test, was essential for the draft. Russia, another North Korean ally, was also on the same page with other permanent members, the official said.

“China and Russia are much more willing to impose sanctions than in the past,” a diplomatic source said.

By Yeh Young-june, Yoo Jee-ho [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]