Fresh draft resolution in North Korea crisis

US ambassador John Bolton said afterwards: “We’ll try to circulate a revised text later,” adding: “There are a number of disagreements.”

“We think the fact that North Korea has conducted a nuclear test does amount to a clear threat to international peace and security and warrants action under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter as well as a variety of strong measures,” said Mr Bolton.

“There’s not agreement on all of those points, so we’re continuing to press ahead and we’ll have to see what further discussions entail.”

Chapter 7 includes a range of measures to deal with threats to international peace and conflicts, ranging from breaking diplomatic relations and imposing naval blockades to military action.

At a news conference today, US President George Bush said his country had no plans to attack North Korea. But he said its claim of carrying out the test in itself constituted a threat to international peace and stability.

“In response to North Korea’s actions, we’re working with our partners in the region and the United Nations Security Council to ensure there are serious repercussions for the regime in Pyongyang,” he said.

“I’ve spoken with other world leaders, including Japan, China, South Korea and Russia. We all agree that there must be a strong Security Council resolution that will require North Korea to abide by its international commitments to dismantle its nuclear programmes.

“This resolution should also specify a series of measures to prevent North Korea from exporting nuclear or missile technologies and prevent financial transactions or asset transfers that would help North Korea develop its nuclear missile capabilities.

“Last year, North Korea agreed to a path to a better future for its people in the six-party talks. September of last year, we had an agreement with North Korea.

“It came about in the form of what we call the six-party joint statement. It offered the prospect for normalised relations with both Japan and the US. It talked about economic cooperation and energy trade and investment.

“In that joint statement, North Korea committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and to adhering to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to IAEA safeguards.

“They agreed.

“The US affirmed that we have no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. We affirmed that we have no intention of attacking North Korea.

“With its actions this week, North Korea has once again chosen to reject the prospect for a better future offered by the six-party joint statement. Instead, it has opted to raise tensions in the region.

“I’m pleased that the nations in the region are making clear to North Korea what is at stake.

“I thank China, South Korea, Japan and Russia for their strong statements of condemnation of North Korea’s actions.”

Japan today announced a total ban on North Korean imports and said ships from the impoverished nation were prohibited from entering Japanese ports.

North Korean nationals are also banned from entering Japan, with limited exceptions, the country’s cabinet office said in a statement released after an emergency security meeting late today.

“Japan is in gravest danger, if we consider that North Korea has advanced both its missile and nuclear capabilities,” prime minister Shinzo Abe told reporters following the meeting.

“We cannot tolerate North Korea’s actions if we are to protect Japanese lives and property,” he said. “These measures were taken to protect the peace.”

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana today urged the UN Security Council to take tough action against North Korea and show other countries that developing nuclear weapons will not be tolerated.

Solana called for strict sanctions against the government in Pyongyang, but insisted the impact on the people of North Korea be as limited as possible. He said they were suffering from years of food shortages and the hard-line regime of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il.

“The Security Council has to act, otherwise other countries which are looking at what will be the response ... will take the conclusions that the international community does not take seriously an act of this nature,” Mr Solana told the European Parliament.