UN panel slaps sanctions on 5 N Korean officials, 5 entities

I / New York July 17, 2009, 15:04 IST

A UN committee has slapped a new set of sanctions on North Korea, imposing a travel ban on five officials and freezed asset on five more entities for their involvement in nuclear weapons and missile development programs.

The sanctions committee of the 15-member Security Council worked out a list of entities and individuals subject to new UN sanctions in line with Resolution 1874, which the council adopted on June 12 in response to North Korea's second nuclear test on May 25.

The committee also released two types of materials UN members must refrain from providing to North Korea as they could be used in weapons of mass destruction components.

"Today's position demonstrates our unity and resolve on this critical issue of international peace and security," Fazil Corman, deputy permanent representative of Turkey to the United Nations, who chairs the committee, told reporters after the yesterday's decision.

The list — compiled three days ahead of the Sunday deadline set under the resolution — is apparently a product of compromise that was struck between the camp of Japan and the US, which had sought designation of a larger number of entities and individuals, and North Korea's traditional allies China and Russia, which had resisted tougher measures on the country.