After two weeks of tough negotiations, the five permanent members of the Security Council have agreed on a draft resolution to impose tough new sanctions against North Korea for its second nuclear test, diplomats said.
The resolution, which could go to vote as early as tomorrow, puts Pyongyang on notice in no uncertain terms that even its friends like China and Russia do not approve of its continued nuclear ambition and would like to put a stop to it.
The new resolution will include possible inspections of the North Korea's cargo vessels on high seas. In addition, it may expand an arms embargo against North Korea, seek to curtail the North's financial dealings with the outside world, and freeze assets of the communist nation's companies.
"It is important for there to be consequences and this sanctions regime, if passed by the Security Council, will bite and bite in a meaningful way," US Ambassador to the UN Susan E Rice said.
However, past sanctions have met with little success in convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The resolution, which is expected to pass without any difficulty given that it enjoys the support of the major member nations, including South Korea and Japan, condemns the underground nuclear test conducted by North Korea on May 25.
The resolution demands that Pyongyang should suspend its ballistic missile programme immediately, put a stop to any further tests, and join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Despite conceding that "sanctions and things like that is not our choice," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly I Churkin said that regardless, "a certain political message must be sent and some measures must be taken because we are facing a very real situation of proliferation risks."
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China and Russia supported sending a strong and clear message to the Pyongyang, but not one that would provoke or destabilise the North Korean government, diplomats said.
The draft resolution states that if any nation has "reasonable grounds" to believe that North Korean vessels, whether in port or high seas, are transporting materials related to the nuclear programme or weapons, it should inspect those vessels and seize "any such material."
The inspection provision also covers airport cargoes.
Although there was no immediate reaction from North Korea, Pyongyang has maintained that the inspection of North Korean ships or other such sanctions would be tantamount to an act of war.
All member states are called upon to avoid and freeze any financial transactions by North Korea pertaining to its nuclear programme, its ballistic missile programme or any activity related to weapons of mass destruction.
Humanitarian and/or development programmes are exempt from this financial blockade.