UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to impose weapons-related sanctions on North Korea in response to its flurry of missile tests earlier this month.
The resolution demands that North Korea suspend "all activities" on its ballistic missile programs.
It requires all U.N. members to prevent imports from or exports to North Korea of missiles and missile-related items as well as materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.
To avert a veto from China, the resolution does not mention Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which is used on a legally binding document. But Security Council members say the resolution is mandatory because of the way it is worded.
China and Russia had originally proposed weaker language, but agreed to a tough resolution. They expressed fears that Chapter 7 would lead to military action as in Iraq.
"The council has acted swiftly and robustly in response to the reckless and condemnable act of (North Korea) in launching the barrage of ballistic missiles," Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Shintaro Ito, told the 15-member council after the vote.
Defying international warnings, North Korea launched at least six missiles on July 5 and a seventh some 12 hours later. A long-range Taepodong-2, which could theoretically hit the continental United States, fell into the Sea of Japan within a minute of the launch.
North Korea, a reclusive Stalinist state, has rebuffed world-wide criticism of its missile tests and resisted pressure to return to talks on winding up its nuclear arms program, but its neighbours pressed on with diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
The UN Security Council has unanimously voted to impose sanctions on North Korea following recent missile tests.
The resolution demands UN members bar exports and imports of missile-related materials to North Korea and that it halt its ballistic missile programme.
The move comes after North Korea test-fired seven missiles including a long-range Taepodong-2 - believed to be capable of reaching Alaska.
North Korea has said it "totally rejects" the resolution.
'Unambiguous message'
Japan had produced its draft resolution for the 15-member Security Council just days after tests earlier this month.
To avert a veto from China, the resolution does not mention Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which authorises the use of force.
It requires all UN members to prevent imports from or exports to North Korea of materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.
The resolution underlines the need for North Korea "to show restraint and refrain from any action that might aggravate tension".
And it calls for Pyongyang to return to six-nation talks over its nuclear programme.
"The council has acted swiftly and robustly in response to the reckless and condemnable act of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Chintaro Ito said.
US Ambassador John Bolton said the resolution sent "an unequivocal, unambiguous and unanimous message to Pyongyang".
He said that if North Korea did not comply with the resolution, the council could consider further action.
