UN Security Council could toughen sanctions on NK rocket launch

The U.N. Security Council could toughen sanctions on North Korea through its new resolution expected this week on the Stalinist country`s launch of a long-range missile.

A ranking South Korean diplomat involved with the U.N. told The Dong-A Ilbo over the phone Saturday, “We haven`t spent time and efforts just to issue the same level of solution as in the past,” but added, "Even if new measures are included in the new resolution, it will have the nature of a recommendation not binding under international law considering China (North Korea’s longtime ally).”

After Pyongyang launched a rocket Dec. 12 last year, the U.N. Security Council immediately began discussions on sanctions in line with the “provision of trigger,” but failed to produce an outcome for more than a month due to an intense war of nerves between the U.S. and China. Washington and Beijing, however, agreed on a first draft on sanctions through last-minute negotiations Thursday and Friday, and are reportedly reviewing the draft.

The new resolution is known to include measures to expand organizations and individuals in addition to those subject to Security Council sanctions under the existing resolution. So critics say little progress has been made with the new sanctions from previous ones. Nevertheless, if the new resolution includes new sanctions despite being merely a recommendation in nature, it will likely deal a significant blow to Pyongyang. But China could also oppose the resolution and have the provisions on new sanctions deleted from the final agreement.

witness@donga.com