U.S. Urges Sanctions on North Korea

U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton told U.N. diplomats that the U.S. initiative is designed to limit North Korea's ability to import or export nuclear and ballistic missile technology and hurt its ability to raise illicit money. (By Bebeto Matthews -- Associated Press)

At the United Nations yesterday, the Bush administration proposed an arms embargo and financial and trade sanctions on North Korea, as well as international inspections of all trade going in and out of the country to enforce them. The measures were contained in a U.S. draft resolution presented to the 15-nation council yesterday.

John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told diplomats at a closed-door emergency session that the U.S. initiative is designed to limit North Korea's ability to import or export nuclear and ballistic missile technology and hinder its capacity to raise illicit money, citing the alleged manufacture of counterfeit U.S. dollars, senior council diplomats said.

The draft resolution would also bar the import of all luxury goods and demand that North Korea cease its nuclear activities and restart multiparty talks aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis. The resolution would give North Korea 30 days to comply with council demands or face "such further action as may be needed."

Britain and France voiced support for sanctions on North Korea but stopped short of endorsing the draft resolution.

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, said his government "sees eye to eye" with the Americans on many of the proposals. The Japanese, in fact, offered amendments that in some cases go further; Japan called for a ban on all North Korean exports, for instance, and a ban on North Korean ships or aircraft calling on foreign countries.

China, meanwhile, cautioned that the Security Council should pursue only diplomatic means to persuade North Korea to stop its nuclear activities.

China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, said that Beijing opposes the North Korean test and that it is ready to discuss "how the Security Council could react firmly, constructively and prudently with regard to this challenge." But he declined to say whether Beijing would support a sanctions resolution. "The door to solve this issue from a diplomatic point of view is still open," he said.

Privately, U.S. officials said they are hopeful after private conversations with the Chinese that Beijing is sufficiently angry with North Korea to sign on to the U.S. plan.

"This was really a direct challenge to the Chinese, and indications are that they are not taking this lightly," said one senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive deliberations. "We are hopeful that they will exert whatever influence they have left with the North Koreans."

Leach and Rep. Tom Lantos (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, urged the administration to open direct talks with the North Koreans, which the White House has resisted except in the context of broader negotiations with China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.

"My impression is that the administration is profoundly divided in their approach to North Korea," Lantos said. "I am convinced that there are very senior people in the administration who agree with me that dialogue is needed."

But former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who has been critical of the administration's efforts on North Korea, drew a different lesson.

"We keep trying to find an official diplomatic technique for dealing with a regime that violates every norm of human decency," he said, adding that the administration needs to step up efforts to undermine the government by trying to get food and supplies to North Koreans via unofficial channels.

Lynch reported from the United Nations.