The United Nations Security Council passed a unanimous resolution imposing a new round of sanctions on North Korea following the country's February 12 nuclear test explosion. These sanctions are particularly noteworthy because they were drafted by the United States in concert with China, Pyongyang's closest ally and supporter. This is the fourth set of UN sanctions imposed on North Korea since the country's first nuclear test in 2006.
The resolution imposes new financial sanctions, which require states to block financial transactions that could contribute to North Korea's weapons programs and to prevent bulk cash transfers to the country, among other things. In addition, the resolution requires states to inspect cargo on North Korean ships suspected of carrying prohibited items and to deny port access to vessels refusing inspection. The U.S. State Department has a complete list of the sanctions levied in the resolution.
Pyongyang responded to the resolution by cancelling the hotline between the North Korean leadership and Seoul, as well as the 1992 denuclearization agreement between the two countries and threatened to nullify the 1953 Armistice Agreement. North Korea has also ramped up its rhetoric by threatening both South Korea and the United States with "a pre-emptive nuclear attack" using ICBMs, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
Visit the Associated Press' story on the sanctions here.
Also see Ambassador Rice's statement on the Security Council resolution here.
“Right after I graduated, I interned with the Arms Control Association. It was terrific.”