UN sanctions three
North Korea firms over rocket launch
2 May 2012
The UN has imposed sanctions on three North Korean state-owned
companies in response to Pyongyang's failed rocket launch last month.
The decision to freeze
the assets of the firms and ban them from global trade was approved
by the UN Security Council's sanctions committee.
The US and EU had
wanted to blacklist some 40 North Korean firms but China blocked the move.
Tension on the Korean
peninsula remains high after the 13 April launch.
Pyongyang said at the
time it was putting a satellite into orbit but critics said the launch was a
disguised test of missile technology banned
under UN resolutions. The rocket launch
failed, with the device crashing into the sea shortly after take off.
'Credible response'
On Wednesday, the
sanctions committee named the three blacklisted companies as Green Pine
Conglomerate, Amroggang Development Banking Corporation and Korea
Heungjin Trading Company.
It said they were all
involved in financing, exporting and
procuring weapons.
US envoy to the UN Susan
Rice hailed the decision, saying in a
statement that it "constitutes a serious and credible
response to North Korea's provocation".
"These measures
will increase North Korea's isolation and make it harder for Pyongyang to move
forward with its illicit programmes," she said.
In addition, the
sanctions committee approved extra items and technology that would be
prohibited for transfer to or from North Korea - updating its lists dealing
with Pyongyang's missiles and nuclear related material.
However, the total
number fell far short of the roughly 40 firms proposed by the West, Japan and
South Korea.
This is because it was
opposed by China, North Korea's protector in the UN Security Council, says the
BBC's Barbara Plett in New York.
Before Wednesday's
decision, the North Korean sanctions lists included eight companies and five
individuals. Pyongyang has not publicly
commented on the new sanctions
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U.N. panel prepares to
expand North Korea sanctions: envoys
By Louis Charbonneau, UNITED
NATIONS | Mon Apr 30, 2012
(Reuters) - The
United States, South Korea, Japan and European nations have submitted
to the U.N. Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee lists
of individuals and firms they want blacklisted after Pyongyang's recent
rocket launch, envoys said on Monday.
Earlier this month the
15-nation council strongly condemned North Korea's April 13 rocket launch,
called for adding new names to the list of those hit by existing U.N. sanctions
and warned Pyongyang of further consequences if it carried out another missile
launch or nuclear test.
"So far the
United States, European council members, South Korea and Japan have
proposed new designations ahead of tomorrow's midnight deadline (to agree on new names)," a council
diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
It was not immediately
clear which firms and individuals the council would blacklist, assuming it
reached agreement.
The Security Council
imposed sanctions on Pyongyang in response to its 2006 and 2009
nuclear tests.
China,
North Korea's protector on the Security Council and a permanent veto-wielding
member, also backed the council's "presidential statement" from two
weeks ago, ensuring its unanimous adoption. The statement gave the council's
North Korea sanctions committee 15 days to propose new sanctions listings.
"That deadline
might be extended for a few days to give China a little more time to think
about the proposed designations," another council diplomat said. The
deadline for agreement is midnight EDT on Tuesday (0400 GMT on Wednesday).
"It looks as if China
won't stand in the way of an agreement (on expanding the sanctions list)
though they won't necessarily accept adding all the proposed individuals and
entities," he added. Several other Western diplomats said they also
expected China would agree to an expansion of the U.N. blacklist.
Diplomats say that if
the committee can agree on adding new names to the blacklist, it will be a
further sign of Beijing's irritation with its hermit neighbor over a
satellite rocket launch North Korea had been widely urged not
to carry out.
The North Korea
sanctions committee includes all 15 council members. It
works on the basis of consensus, which means any individual council member
can block agreement.
The U.N. blacklist
includes individuals facing international travel bans and asset freezes,
companies whose assets are to be frozen and goods that North Korea is not
allowed to export or import.
The current list includes eight companies and five
individuals. Under two Security Council sanctions resolutions from 2006 and
2009, North Korea is barred from importing nuclear and ballistic-missile
technology, as well as luxury goods.
(Reporting By Louis
Charbonneau; Editing by Paul Simao)
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http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1718/
Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006)
==
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http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1718/
Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006)
