Divisions Remain on N. Korea Enforcement

South Korean protesters burn a North Korea 's mock missile, pictures of North's leader Kim Jong Il and flags during a rally denouncing North Korea's nuclear test at downtown of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006. South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Sunday it welcomes and supports a U.N. resolution on North Korea and urged its communist neighbor to return to six-nation talks on ending the North's nuclear weapons program. The signs read " Supports a U.N. resolution on North Korea." (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man) (Lee Jin-man - AP)

SEOUL, South Korea -- The approval of U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea was unanimous, but sharp divisions remained Sunday over how to carry out the punishment leveled for the North's purported nuclear test.

One of the biggest differences was over inspecting cargo to and from North Korea to prevent trafficking in certain heavy weapons, nuclear technology and ballistic missiles.

The final resolution was softened and did not mandate searches, and China _ the North's closest ally and largest trading partner _ said it would not carry out any inspections.

"China signed on to this resolution. It voted for this resolution. ... And so I'm quite certain that China is going to live up to its responsibilities," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday in response.

Japan and Australia promised to enforce the sanctions immediately and said they were considering harsher penalties on their own. South Korea, which has taken a conciliatory approach to the North and provided its neighbor with aid, also pledged to implement the measures but did not say how.

The U.S.-sponsored resolution demands North Korea eliminate nuclear weapons but expressly rules out military action against the country, on the demand of the Russians and Chinese.

The resolution orders all countries to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting any material for unconventional weapons or ballistic missiles. It orders nations to freeze assets of people or businesses connected to these programs, and ban the individuals from traveling.

North Korea immediately rejected the resolution, and its U.N. ambassador walked out of the council chamber after accusing its members of a "gangster-like" action which neglects the nuclear threat posed by the United States.

On Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton _ speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" _ warned North Korea to end its nuclear program.

The United States will "ratchet up the pressure, make it clear that their international isolation is only going to increase and we're going to make it, to the extent we can, impossible for them to continue the program," Bolton said.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer welcomed the U.N. resolution Sunday as "surprisingly tough" and said his country was considering stronger measures of its own.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan was also considering additional sanctions against North Korea, following its move Friday to ban trade with the North and close its ports to North Korean ships.