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Unanimous Security Council Warns North Korea

06 October 2006

Ambassador Bolton calls for long-term strategy on Pyongyang's threats

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations – In a unanimous vote October 6, the Security Council warned North Korea that a nuclear test would bring "universal condemnation" and would not resolve that country's security concerns.

The council expressed "deep concern" over the North Korean government's announcement October 3 that it planned to conduct a nuclear test, saying such action "would jeopardize peace, stability and security in the region and beyond."

The Security Council statement, read during a formal meeting by the council's president for the month of October, Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan, urged the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name) "not to undertake such a test and to refrain from any action that might aggravate tension."  It also called on the North Korean government "to work on the resolution of nonproliferation concerns and to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through political and diplomatic efforts."   

Even with the council's quick, strong formal presidential statement, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said the United States will continue to press the 15-member body to develop a longer-term strategy on North Korea.  (See related article.)

"North Korea should understand how strongly the United States and many other council members feel that they should not test this nuclear device and, should they test it, it will be a very different world after the test," Bolton said. 

The ambassador urged the council to "do more than simply issue a piece of paper," and said the situation "requires thinking beyond the normal knee-jerk response."

Bolton stressed that the United States considers North Korea's threat to conduct a nuclear test a serious one and not just a ploy to garner attention.  Such a test, he said, "will be an example of nuclear proliferation" and a threat to international peace and security.  

The Security Council urged North Korea to return without precondition to the Six-Party Talks on dismantlement of nuclear programs on the Korean Peninsula.  Participating in the talks, which have taken place sporadically since 2003, are North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.   

In July, North Korea test-launched a series of ballistic missiles.  (See related article.)

In response, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1695, which demanded that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and required all U.N. member states to refrain from trading with North Korea on missile-related technology.  (See related article.) 

In the October 6 statement, the council deplored North Korea's decision of almost four years ago to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and urged the DPRK government in Pyongyang to comply fully with Resolution 1695.

The council said it would be "monitoring this situation closely," and promised, if North Korea carries out a nuclear test, to "act consistent with its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations."

For further information, see The U.S. and the Korean Peninsula.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)