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China Says It Will Back Sanctions On N. Korea
But other U.S. officials made it clear that they think tougher measures are required to ensure that North Korea will not ignore another unenforceable council dictate. They note that a U.N. measure that was passed in July, Resolution 1695, already bans international trade in ballistic missiles and nuclear technology with North Korea. But it lacks any enforcement provision.
The United States supports a resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced by sanctions or military action.
  Kenzo Oshima, Japan's U.N. ambassador, speaks to reporters after the Security Council meeting. The United States and Japan are urging the council to support strong economic and trade sanctions against North Korea. (By Mario Tama -- Getty Images) In DepthDIPLOMACY & DETERRENCE
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The U.S. draft resolution calls for imposing stringent financial penalties on North Korea and providing broad powers to foreign governments to inspect all trucks, trains, vessels and planes traveling in and out of the country. The U.S. text would also confront North Korea with a 30-day deadline to reverse course or face further penalties.
Japan has introduced a series of amendments that would ban North Korean exports and prohibit the arrival of North Korean ships or planes in foreign countries.
China opposes any deadlines or trade restrictions that would undercut North Korea's struggling economy.
It also insists that any resolution must exclude the possibility, however remote, that force could be used against North Korea. China proposed that a sanctions resolution refer simply to a provision in Chapter 7, known as Article 41, that would authorize only the imposition of sanctions.
"We have not reached agreement -- do not misunderstand me," Bolton told reporters after meetings with China and other major council powers. "I know when you're making progress and I know when you're not making progress, and I'm still pleased with the directions things are going."
Fan and researcher Jin Ling reported from Beijing; staff writer Glenn Kessler in Washington contributed to this report.
