UN Council imposes sanctions on N Korea

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to impose financial and arms sanctions on North Korea, less than a week after the communist regime said it had tested a nuclear weapon.

All 15 members of the Security Council co-sponsored and voted for the resolution, which demands the elimination of all North Korean nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.

It also provides for inspection of cargo to and from North Korea to prevent any illegal trafficking.

In addition to an array of financial and other sanctions, the resolution calls on Pyongyang to return "without pre-condition" to the stalled six-nation talks on its nuclear program that it has boycotted for nearly a year.

"Today we are sending a strong and clear message to North Korea and other would-be proliferators that there will be serious repercussions in continuing to pursue weapons of mass destruction," US Ambassador John Bolton told the council.

In a concession to China, the resolution specifically excludes the use of force.