UN Security Council tightens sanctions against North Korea

The United Nations Security Council has approved a new series of sanctions targeting North Korea’s leadership and economy, following Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test.

On Thursday, the Council unanimously passed a resolution, drafted by the United States and China, against North Korea, tightening Pyongyang’s financial dealings and adding new names to the UN sanctions blacklist.

The resolution also threatened “further significant measures” if Pyongyang conducted more nuclear tests or rocket launches. It also expressed “gravest concern” over North Korea’s third underground nuclear test on February 12.

Pyongyang also carried out two nuclear tests on October 9, 2006 and May 25, 2009.

Three new individuals, a government science academy and a trading company were added to the UN blacklist for asset freeze and travel ban.

The sanctions accelerated financial restriction, tightened regulations for inspections of cargo to the country and banned exports of luxury cars, yachts and jewelry.

Hours before the Council meeting, the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Pyongyang would launch a “preemptive” nuclear strike against the United States to defend itself in the event that Washington ignited a nuclear war.

“Since the United States is about to ignite a nuclear war, we will be exercising our right to preemptive nuclear attack against the headquarters of the aggressor in order to protect our supreme interest,” the statement said.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry also said a second Korean war would be “unavoidable” if the United States and South Korea refused Pyongyang’s calls to cancel their large-scale joint military exercise scheduled to kick off next week.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the new sanctions “sent an unequivocal message to (North Korea) that the international community will not tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons.”