U.N. Security Council Imposes Additional Sanctions on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council today passed a resolution condemning North Korea's May 25th nuclear test and imposing additional multilateral sanctions on North Korea.

Security Council resolution 1874 requires U.N. member states to impose a series of additional measures on North Korea, including tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo (with the exception of light weapons) and new financial restrictions.

Resolution 1874 also condemned North Korea's recent nuclear test on grounds that it was conducted in “violation and flagrant disregard” of relevant Council resolutions, particularly 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006). The resolution also demands that North Korea “not conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology.”

Security Council Resolution 1695, issued in July 2006, required U.N. member states to implement measures to prevent the procurement of missiles or missile related-items, materials, goods and technology from North Korea and the transfer of any financial resources in relation to North Korea's missile or WMD programs.

Among other things, Security Council Resolution 1718, issued in October 2006, required U.N. member states to prevent the transfer to North Korea of luxury goods, certain arms and related materiel, and items that could contribute to North Korea’s nuclear, ballistic missile, and other WMD programs. The resolution also called upon member states to prevent transfers to North Korea of technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the WMD programs.