UK & World News
- 7 March 2013, 21:53
North Korea Nuclear Test: UN Sanctions Agreed
New sanctions will be imposed on North Korea for its nuclear weapons test last month, after a unanimous United Nations Security Council vote.
A resolution passed by the 15-member body added three new individuals and two entities to the UN sanctions blacklist.
It also tightened restrictions on the North's financial dealings, including "bulk cash" transfers, linked to its weapons programmes.
The vote came after Pyongyang threatened to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States.
An unidentified spokesman for the country's foreign ministry said the North will exercise its right for "pre-emptive nuclear strikes on the headquarters of the aggressors".
The spokesman claims Washington is pushing to start a nuclear war against North Korea.
Inflammatory rhetoric is common from North Korea, however it has become more regular in recent days.
The North has been angered by the possible sanctions and over upcoming US-South Korean military drills.
The UN Security Council vote means a fourth round of sanctions against Pyongyang in a fresh attempt to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The resolution was drafted by the United States and China, North Korea's closest ally.
Although North Korea boasts of nuclear bombs and pre-emptive strikes, the country is not thought to have mastered the ability to produce a warhead small enough to put on a missile capable of reaching the US.
It is believed to have enough nuclear fuel, however, for several crude nuclear devices.
what do you think?
chris
You can bet that 99% of the population of NK will know nothing about it.
stevie may
Any nation that fires a nuke at the Yanks, given their arsenal, is gonna get wiped out. The Megatonnage of most nukes is frighteningly apocalyptic. One airburst over Pyongyang and all of North Korea is gone. Let's hope this is just standard North Korean rhetoric and sabre rattling.
davenlesley
Stevie. Lets hope so but one day if they are stupid enough to actually do it I hope those calling for restraint are quickly told to shut up. while the US reduces NK to a cinder and solves the problem once & for all. One bitten you don't reason with a mad dog
marc H
China is now embarrassed by north korea, russia has turned its back on her. If they are stupid enough to launch a strike, the USA wud take it out before it got anywhyere near America. It then has every reason to retaliate, and boy, would they retaliate. Im thinking this donut boy in charge of north korea has been convinced by his lackies that they would win a war against the USA. Bring it on fat boy.
davenlesley
Marc. Lets hope China is embarrassed by NK since they have the power to close the whole place down at the flick of a switch
Dave Smith
Speak for yourself, it's not the angry guys in suits that suffer when the nuke is dropped, it's the PUBLIC.
blue side
This kid is a puppet but a dangerous one
ali baba
lol
ali baba
this north korea guy is a nutcase, same goes for his dad but lets get something into perspective who is america who are they do tell others how to live their lives one thing if they were a lovely peace loving nation
davenlesley
Ali. The US stick their nose into everything and cause as many problems as they solve trying to spread their version of democracy. Pity they didn't ask if people wanted it first
ali baba
you ready for the relegation scrap my friend x
Name witheld
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chris
China will be somewhat alarmed by this, they might have to act very quickly if they think there is any chance of Nk carring out such a threat. Well they invaded Tibet for less reason.
Angela Gildea
The US would take down and missile before it hit the US but where would it be taken down? Over another country or over the sea? Bottom line is if anything is fired, their will be a terrible impact. I hope this is bicep flexing and only that. However, with the amount of sick news reports this morning, who knows-maybe the end off the world does approach.
Fred Spoons
They wouldn't fly it in; they would bring it in through US customs on a wheelbarrow
Chris Price
Judging by recent attempts by north korea to put sattelites in orbit. Any missile would more than likely Explode on the launch pad or just crash somewhere in the pacific. Or if it did make the journey to the usa The triggers wouldnt work so the warhead wouldnt detonate properly and it would Just slam into the ground possibly killing a racoon.
happymike CHESTER
I am very suspicious of this news item unidentified spokesman form the Foreign Ministry EER. Most probably a grumpy gate keeper.
Richard Crowther
I hope that this is just sabre rattling. But you never know with these unstable, shall we say, nutters.
Dave Smith
Nuclear disarmament or we are all going to die for a couple of nut cases.
David Wragg
If it wasn't for nuclear weapons and the unacceptable damage they can cause, we would have had a third world war by the early 1950s.
Nigel L
They develope a nuclear threat while most of the population live in grinding poverty.
David Wragg
Hmmm, I think the word Sky/Orange meant to use is 'exercises', not 'drills', which gives the impression of North Korea being upset by US and South Korean troops on the parade ground. This is an idle threat as the US could eliminate North Korea within an hour or so, and the country hasn't the technology to land a nuclear weapon on US territory. I suspect this is intended for domestic consumption, hoping to lift people's spirits from their grinding poverty. Perhaps the loss of China's support has jangled a few nerves.
Adrian Wagstaff
North Korea is a clown.
IAN H
Its about time our ridiculous species wiped itself off the face of the planet
Steven Tracey
A big problem is Iranian nuclear material was used in NKs most recent test and that Iranian scientists were able to access NK via China. I'm thinking that this might be the beginning of an 'end game's move to allow Pyongyangs elite an escape route while any survivors are silenced by the US and its weaponry.
Martin Peacock
Realistically they are not going to fire a nuclear device-equipped missile against the US, because they don't have the means of delivery. Even if they do develop in the future a missile that could do the job, it wouldn't get anywhere near the US, because the Yanks would bring it down first. And they know it. The real risk is that they go in for nuclear terrorism, and explode a small but dirty device actually within the US. And if they join up with Al Qaeda, then such devices could potentially be set off in any western (or western-aligned) country.
alan todd
The trouble with North Korea is that they are total nutters .They will not think what will happen to them if they do strike as the whole country are brain washed.
Gordon Wright
9:36am on 7/3/2013
What "right" would that be?? Since when does any country possess such a "right"??