Nations grasp for response to nuclear crisis

SEOUL – Japan urged the international community yesterday to impose retaliatory sanctions on North Korea as nations across Asia and the world considered what to do next after Pyongyang tested an atomic bomb.

South Korea warned its military was remaining on high alert and even close ally China refused to rule out a harder line on the North after it carried out a nuclear test Monday despite calls to abandon its nuclear programme. But the secretive regime showed no sign of backing down as an official warned it could fire nuclear-tipped missiles unless it got concessions from the United States, the nation it says is the reason it needs a nuclear weapon.Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged that his officially pacifist country would not seek to develop the bomb itself after North Korea’s test, but said the world had to take strong action.Tokyo demanded a so-called Chapter VII resolution from the UN Security Council that would leave all options open – including mandatory sanctions and, as a last resort, military action.”North Korea’s latest announcement is a serious challenge to Japan’s security,” the government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, quoted Abe telling his cabinet.”It also is a grave threat against the peace and security of East Asia and the international community,” he said.At an emergency Security Council session Monday, the United States proposed mandatory sanctions including inspections of all cargo in and out of North Korea, financial curbs and restrictions on goods that could have military uses.China, which is the North’s main ally and generally opposes sanctions as a diplomatic tool, refused to say whether it would back the sanctions even though it said the test would harm relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.”China, along with other members of the Security Council, will continue to exchange opinions as to what the next steps are to take,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.”We think the Security Council should take appropriate actions but all actions to be taken should help establish a denuclearised peninsula through diplomatic efforts, dialogue and consultation.”.Nampa-AFPBut the secretive regime showed no sign of backing down as an official warned it could fire nuclear-tipped missiles unless it got concessions from the United States, the nation it says is the reason it needs a nuclear weapon.Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged that his officially pacifist country would not seek to develop the bomb itself after North Korea’s test, but said the world had to take strong action.Tokyo demanded a so-called Chapter VII resolution from the UN Security Council that would leave all options open – including mandatory sanctions and, as a last resort, military action.”North Korea’s latest announcement is a serious challenge to Japan’s security,” the government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, quoted Abe telling his cabinet.”It also is a grave threat against the peace and security of East Asia and the international community,” he said.At an emergency Security Council session Monday, the United States proposed mandatory sanctions including inspections of all cargo in and out of North Korea, financial curbs and restrictions on goods that could have military uses.China, which is the North’s main ally and generally opposes sanctions as a diplomatic tool, refused to say whether it would back the sanctions even though it said the test would harm relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.”China, along with other members of the Security Council, will continue to exchange opinions as to what the next steps are to take,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.”We think the Security Council should take appropriate actions but all actions to be taken should help establish a denuclearised peninsula through diplomatic efforts, dialogue and consultation.”.Nampa-AFP