All news

UNSC expands sanctions on N Korea for rocket launch

The document was supported by all 15 permanent members of the UN Security Council, including Russia and China
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

UNITED NATIONS, January 23 (Itar-Tass) — The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution expanding the list of sanctions against North Korea. The resolution was the international community’s response to the launch of a rocket with a satellite that Pyongyang carried out last December. The document was supported by all 15 permanent members of the UN Security Council, including Russia and China.

The resolution expands the sanctions list of the organisations and individuals in North Korea responsible for the preparation for the launch. Among them is the DPRK Committee of Space Technology, as well as several heads of relevant departments.

North Korea on December 12 launched an Unha-3 rocket carrying the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite. The United States, Canada and other allies suspect that in this way North Korea tested a long-range ballistic missile. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any research in that field. Pyongyang’s reluctance to cooperate with the international community resulted in harsh sanctions. Such measures were taken unilaterally by the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union and a number of other states.