UNSC Dragging Its Feet on Fresh N.Korea Sanctions

The UN Security Council is taking an alarmingly long time deliberating over a fresh resolution against North Korea after its latest nuclear test in September.

It appears permanent veto-carrying members the U.S. and China cannot agree on a fresh round of sanctions against the North. It has been about 54 days since the North conducted its fifth nuclear test. Usually, the U.S. and China are expected to work out a draft resolution through negotiations before the 15 member countries review the draft and vote.

But a government source here said Monday, "It's uncertain if there'll be a draft introduced this week because the U.S. and China haven't finished negotiations."

After the North's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 it took the UNSC a marathon 56 days to come up with a resolution. It took five, 18, and 23 days each after the North's first through third nuclear tests.

"The wording is important, but the willpower of the international community can be measured by how fast a resolution is adopted," a diplomatic source said. "The longer it takes, the less effective it will be."

The U.S. is trying to cut off as many sources of hard currency for North Korea as possible, but China's business interests militate against ending the trade in coal, iron ore and other commodities.

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