U.N. Expands North Korea Sanctions

The U.N. Security Council approves expanded sanctions against North Korea just after Pyongyang threatens the US with a preemptive nuclear strike. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

US, World

Topics

Nuclear Security, United States, Asia

People

Li Baodong

Places

United States of America, North Korea, Pyongyang

Tags

un, sanction

Transcript

North Korea threatens the United States with a preemptive nuclear strike. With tensions high on the Korean peninsula, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to expand its sanctions on the reclusive state. The resolution specifies some luxury items North Korea's elite is not allowed to import, such as yachts, and luxury cars. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINA'S U.N. AMBASSADOR LI BAODONG, SAYING: "The top priority now is to defuse the tension, bring down the heat, focus on a diplomatic track and bring the situation back on the track of diplomacy." On Capital Hill Glyn Davies, the State Department's point man on North Korea assured allies of its commitment to deterrence. (SOUNDBITE)(English) GLYN DAVIES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREA POLICY , SAYING: "First and foremost, the United States will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state." North Korea, which held a mass military rally in Pyongyang Thursday has protested against U.N. censures of its rocket launches. It says they are part of a peaceful space program and that the criticism is an exercise of a double standard.