Security Council Condemns N. Korea's Claim of Nuclear Test 
October 09, 2006
Fox News
Original Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,218920,00.html
UNITED NATIONS  — Members of the U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea's claim of a nuclear test Monday, demanding that it return to six-party talks on its weapons program, U.N. ambassadors said.
Security Council experts planned to meet later in the day to discuss proposals submitted by the U.S. for a draft resolution on North Korea's nuclear test, the ambassadors said.
No one defended it, no one even came close to defending it, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said. I was very impressed by the unanimity of the council ... on the need for a strong and swift answer to what everyone agreed amounted to a threat to international peace and security.
Bolton called U.N. sanctions on North Korea curbing the trade in materials used in weapons of mass destruction as well as illicit financial activities.
North Korea remained defiant. Its ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, said the U.N. Security Council should congratulate North Korea for its nuclear test instead of passing useless resolutions or statements,
Pak Gil Yon told reporters he was proud of the North Koreans who conducted the test, and said the Security Council ought to be, too. Asked if the North planned any more tests, Pak said: That will be enough. You don't think so?
It will be better for the Security Council of the United Nations to congratulate the DPRK scientists and researchers instead of doing such notorious, useless and rigorous resolutions or whatever, Pak said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.
U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed in a phone call Monday to take decisive action against North Korea at the Security Council, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Japan and the United States are expected to press for tough sanctions, which might involve economic measures, breaking diplomatic ties and banning the import or export of military equipment or even a naval blockade.
The French and British ambassadors to the U.N. said the Security Council should pass a resolution on North Korea under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which includes the threat of sanctions and is militarily enforceable.
The diplomats said the council must follow up on the warning it made Friday urging North Korea not to go ahead with it.
The council has warned North Korea last week, so the council has to be up to its responsibility, France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said, adding that the time has come for a Chapter 7 resolution.
Before turning to North Korea, the council nominated South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon as the next secretary-general. Diplomats said the council would probably issue a statement condemning the test, and discuss following up with a resolution.
We've already said that were there to be a nuclear test it would be a threat to international peace and security, Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry said. I think it follows that action under Chapter 7 is what is appropriate. We'll have to look at what sort of measures can be agreed by the council but certainly the United Kingdom would support proposals put down to that effect.
Ban, who was approved by acclimation as Kofi Annan's successor, has said that one of his first acts would be to go to North Korea.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has never visited North Korea during his 10-year term, Ban said Tuesday in an interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo. I plan to go to North Korea as soon as I get the chance.
Ban, 62, topped four informal polls in the council, and in the last one he was the only candidate not to get a veto by one of the five permanent council members. After that result, the five other candidates dropped out of the race.
Under the U.N. Charter, the 15-member Security Council makes a recommendation for the next secretary-general to the 192-member General Assembly, which must give final approval.
Ban was be the only candidate on the ballot.
The timing of North Korea's test is certain to increase speculation that North Korea wanted to express its displeasure and opposition to Ban's expected selection as the Security Council's candidate to succeed Annan.