DPR Korea: Security Council vote on reported nuclear test set for Saturday morning

After further consultations today on what action to take against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its reported nuclear test, the United Nations Security Council is set to vote tomorrow on a United States resolution that includes the interdiction of the country’s ships on the high seas.

“This resolution certainly is going to permit that if this is adopted,” Council President for October Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan told reporters when asked whether it would authorize states to interdict DPRK ships in international waters or if such action is prohibited under international law.

“The relevant provision is going to say measures will be taken in accordance with national legislation and measures consistent with international law,” he added, saying that the resolution would be put to the vote fairly early tomorrow morning.

Speaking just hours after his appointment, Secretary-General-designate Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the Council would give “a very strong and clear message” to the DPRK, adding that it was his understanding that there was general agreement on the US resolution.

Council members and experts have held intensive negotiations over the past few days on the resolution, which has been amended several times. The five permanent members who have veto power – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US – have been meeting together with Japan.

Yesterday, Mr. Oshima said the UK, France, Slovakia and Japan would co-sponsoring the resolution and “several others indicated their support.” He noted then that the Chinese and Russian ambassadors “again explained their position.”

Although all members strongly condemned the reported test in consultations on Monday, Mr. Oshima said on Tuesday that a major focus was whether to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter that allows for sanctions and the use of force in the case of a threat to or breach of peace.

UN officials, led by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have insisted on the urgent need for the DPRK to return to the Six-Party Talks that have been seeking to resolve the issue of its nuclear programme. The talks between China, DPRK, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and US have been going on sporadically in Beijing for several years.