TOKYO, Jun 12 – Japan said the only way North Korea can survive in the international community is to comply with a UN resolution expected later on Friday and cease its missile and nuclear programmes.
The UN Security Council in New York was expected to adopt tougher sanctions against the isolated communist regime to punish it for recent atomic and ballistic missile tests which triggered global condemnation.
"Giving serious thought to the UN Security Council resolution is the only way that North Korea can survive in the international community," Japan’s top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura told a media briefing in Tokyo.
"This will also serve North Korea’s national interest."
The North last month conducted its second nuclear test, heightening regional tensions after its launch in April of a long-range missile over Japanese territory and its withdrawal from six-nation denuclearisation talks.
US intelligence officials have warned President Barack Obama that North Korea intends to respond to a UN resolution condemning its actions with another nuclear test, Fox News reported, citing US intelligence sources.
Asked about the report, Kawamura said: "We are aware of such reports, and the government has access to various sorts of information. But I decline to comment on them here, as it is about intelligence."
The 15-member UN Security Council was due to meet at 11:00 am New York time (1500 GMT) for a likely vote on the draft resolution already agreed by its five veto-wielding permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Japan and South Korea.
The text calls on UN member states to increase sanctions, including tougher inspections of cargo suspected to contain banned items related to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo — with the exception of light weapons — and new financial restrictions.
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