UNSC Unanimously Adopts Resolution on New Sanctions Against North Korea

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a draft resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea as a result of a nuclear test in September and missile launches.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — On September 5, Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Several days later it conducted successful test of a nuclear warhead, which is believed to be the fifth and largest blast since Pyongyang began pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"The results of the vote are the following, 15 votes in favor, the draft resolution is adopted unanimously," the president of the Security Council said after the vote.

The adopted resolution condemns "in the strongest terms" the nuclear test conducted by Pyongyang on September 9 in violation of the Security Council resolutions.

It also calls on member states to reduce the number of staff at North Korean diplomatic missions and "limit the number of bank accounts to one per DPRK diplomatic mission."

On October 14, North Korea carried out a failed test of the Musadan intermediate-range ballistic missile near the northwestern city of Kusong. The incidents have sparked concern in neighboring Japan, as North Korean missiles reached Japanese waters after flying over 600 miles from the launch site during early September's ballistic test.

Earlier this year, the United Nations adopted Resolution 2270 that tightened sanctions against Pyongyang after North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb in January.

The UN Security Council adopted the first resolution on North Korea in 1993. In 2016, the Council held 9 emergency consultations in response to Pyongyang’s nuclear test and ballistic missile launches. This year the country conducted two nuclear tests and at least 25 launches using ballistic missile technology.