The draft resolution invokes Article 41 of the UN Charter, which makes it possible to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions but excludes military sanctions. In the draft, the UNSC expresses “profound concern” at North Korea’s claim to have conducted a nuclear test and “decided” on sanctions against the North. That means the resolution is binding on UN members. The UNSC resolution adopted after the North’s missile tests in July was non-binding.

The U.S., Japanese, and Chinese ambassadors to the UN, from left: John Bolton, Kenzo Oshima and Wang Guangya

Article 8 of the draft resolution says all UN member nations are to prevent all goods, equipment, products and technology related to North Korea’s nuclear development from going into the country, and that such materials are banned from direct or indirect transfer to the North via land and sea. It also covers luxury goods.

Member nations will be obliged to freeze financial assets owned and managed by individuals and organizations proven to have helped the North develop weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms and missiles. When it comes to the contentious issue of inspections of North Korean vessels, UN members are called on to take "cooperative action” as necessary under their own domestic law and in a way that does not violate international law.

The draft resolution is still ambiguous in determining the kinds of transactions UN members are prohibited from conducting with North Korea. When it is put into action, however, such inter-Korean business projects as the Kaesong Industrial Complex and package tours to Mt. Kumgang, which are cash cows for the North, will come under the scrutiny of a committee to be established in the UN to monitor whether member countries are adhering to their obligations. The UN will put more pressure on Seoul to inspect North Korean vessels in the East and West Sea.

(englishnews@chosun.com )