UNSC threatens fresh sanctions against North Korea over N-test

From Yoshita Singh United Nations, Sep 10 (PTI) The UN Security Council hasthreatened to impose a new raft of sanctions against NorthKorea as it strongly condemned Pyongyang’s fifth nuclear test,terming it a "threat" to international peace and security. The 15-member powerful UN body held urgent consultationshere yesterday to address the "serious situation" arising fromKorea’s atomic test – believed to be its most powerful ever. Strongly condemning the test, the Council said it is aclear violation and in flagrant disregard of Security Councilresolutions and of the non-proliferation regime and "thereforea clear threat to international peace and security continuesto exist." The Council members said they have previously expressedtheir determination to take "further significant measures" inthe event of another nuclear test by North Korea. "In line with this commitment and the gravity of thisviolation, the members of the Security Council will begin towork immediately on appropriate measures," they said. The US and France urged the Council members to push aheadwith new sanctions against North Korea, saying its repeatedtests show "complete disregard" for international law. Terming the latest nuclear test as "more than brazendefiance", US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said theCouncil must send a "clear, united and strong message that theinternational community will never accept a nuclear NorthKorea. The Council must take further, decisive action thatforces North Korea to change its calculus." Power said the Council will take additional significantsteps, including new sanctions, to demonstrate to North Koreathat there are "consequences to its unlawful and dangerousactions." China’s UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi told reporters that "allsides should refrain from mutual provocation and any actionthat might exacerbate the situation." French envoy to the François Delattre said the latestnuclear test by North Korea is more than a grave provocation. "North Korea will have to bear the consequences of itsacts and provocations," he said, adding that more importantly,new sanctions are "indispensable." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also strongly condemnedthe underground nuclear test and said, "This is yet anotherbrazen breach of the resolutions of the Security Council." "This unacceptable act endangers peace and security inthe region and is another vivid reminder of the urgent need tostrengthen the global nuclear test ban regime," he stressed. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation CTBTOExecutive Secretary Lassina Zerbo called the tests afrightening, unfortunate and serious breach of the normsadopted by the international community. International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General YukiyaAmano called it a "deeply troubling and regrettable act". UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid RaÂ’ad AlHussein also designated two independent human rights expertsto support the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situationof human rights in North Korea Tomas Ojea Quintana. PTI YASZH