Key U.S. sanctions proposals

The United States has circulated a revised five-page text on U.N. sanctions against North Korea in response to Pyongyang's claim it tested a nuclear weapon.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton plans to introduce the draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council Thursday, and hopes for a vote Friday.

Here are the key elements of the draft, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters:

• Authorizes nations to "undertake and facilitate inspection of cargo" to and from North Korea to detect weapons-related material.
• Imposes a total arms embargo.
• Asks nations to freeze funds or other financial assets held by individuals or entities providing support for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
• Establishes a Security Council sanctions committee that would ask U.N. member nations to report on steps they have taken to implement the resolution, determine banned items and designate individuals and entities subject to sanctions.
• Allows nations to prohibit the entry or transit of individuals and their families if they support the North's polices on weapons of mass destruction. Exceptions are travel for humanitarian needs or religious obligations.
• Imposes a ban on sale of luxury goods to North Korea.
• Condemns a nuclear test "proclaimed" by North Korea October 9 in "flagrant disregard" of Security Council measures and demands it not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile.
• Demands North Korea immediately retract its announcement of withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• Calls on North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons programs and allow inspections by the U.N.'s Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
• Encourages a resumption of six-party talks that include the United States, China, Russia, Japan as well South Korea and North Korea.

Written by CNN and reprinted here due to lack of trust. Most of the time, you can no longer find a link without already having the words in another place. I wish they would stop moving their files!
- posted by Rosemary Welch@5:29 PM