UN Chief Urges N Korea to Abide By Resolution Sanctioning Pyongyang

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged North Korea on Wednesday to abide by the recently adopted resolution, which stipulates tougher sanctions against the country over its nuclear activity.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution expanding the sanctions against North Korea in response to Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.

"This firm response by the Security Council should put an end to the cycle of provocation and lead to the resumption of dialogue in accordance with the unified view of the international community. The Secretary-General reaffirms his commitment to working with all sides to reduce tensions and achieve the verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said in a statement.

The secretary-general also called on UN member states to ensure the implementation of the resolution.

The sanctions under the new resolution are due to affect multiple sectors of North Korea's economy, making all cargo entering and leaving the country subject to inspection and limiting or prohibiting the nation's export of coal, iron, gold, titanium and rare natural minerals. The resolution also bans conventional arms sale as well as the delivery of aviation and rocket fuel to Pyongyang.

In early January, Pyongyang said that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. The following month, North Korea fired a long-range rocket to allegedly place a satellite into orbit in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.