US circulates N Korea draft resolution

The United States on Thursday circulated a new United Nations draft resolution to respond to the nuclear tests by North Korea retaining most of the tough punitive measures objected to by China and making it unlikely for Beijing to accept the document.

The new draft, which retains most the tough measures, including invoking of Chapter 7 of the Charter which makes the resolution enforceable using force, does not meet the objections raised by Beijing, diplomats said.

Though the United States is looking for a vote on Friday, diplomats expect the negotiations to be dragged on into the next week unless one of the sides makes major concessions.

The Chinese have made it clear they would ensure that the resolution cannot be interpreted to mean that force can be used to implement it and that it imposes limited sanctions.

In this context, Beijing is insisting that the resolution specifically mention Article 41 of Chapter 7 which does not authorise the use of force.

The article says the Security Council "may decide what measures not involving the use of armed forces are to be employed to give effects to its decisions."

This may include "complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio and other means of communication and the severance of diplomatic relations," it says. 

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters on Wednesday that his country wants the reference to Chapter 7 to be limited to Article 41.

American UN Ambassador John Bolton, who is expected to introduce the draft in the council, admitted that there were a "number of differences."

Beijing had said it favours "punitive measures" which encouraged western diplomats, but then it insisted that they be limited to weapons of mass destruction.

It had rejected the American and Japanese suggestions to authorise inspection of all incoming and outgoing cargo from North Korea to ensure that there are no proliferation materials.

However, China might be agreeable to imposition of arms embargo, ban on transfer of weapons of mass destruction and related materials and financial sanctions related to nuclear arms, which the American draft proposes.

After its unsuccessful attempt to persuade China to agree to ban movement of all North Korean ships and planes, Tokyo imposed bilateral sanctions prohibiting North Korean ships from its ports and banning all imports.

Diplomats said the new draft, at Japanese suggestion, provides for states to ban entry of North Korean personnel connected with weapons of mass destruction and their families, but it is not a requirement.