UN agrees to condemn Nork missile launch

AP:

U.N. Security Counsel members have agreed to adopt a resolution condemning North Korean missile tests, after agreeing on a compromise to avoid a Chinese veto, council diplomats said.

U.N. ambassadors from Britain, France and the United States all said they expected the resolution to be adopted Saturday afternoon.

The council had split over whether the resolution should be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which allows for military enforcement.

After China threatened to veto any mention of Chapter 7, Britain and France offered language that would remove any reference to it, diplomats said.

...

They bought their troublesome client a small amount of breathing space, but not much. It will be difficult for China to keep the Chapter 7 language out if the Norks launch again.

Update: Reuters is now reporting that the resolution passed.

...

It requires all U.N. members to prevent imports from or exports to North Korea of missiles and missile-related items as well as materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.

To avert a veto from China, the resolution does not mention Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which is used on a legally binding document. But Security Council members say the resolution is mandatory because of the way it is worded.

...

This should put the trade with Iran in a bind. If they are both found to be in violation after this resolution then much tougher action will follow. The Nork nut in charge has said that sanctions are an act of war, but he has been officially at war with the UN for almost 60 years, since the original Korean war only ended with a cease fire and not a peace agreement.