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North Korea slams sanctions

Accuses the world body of "double standards"

UNITED NATIONS: North Korea on Saturday said it ``totally rejects'' UN sanctions imposed after it conducted a nuclear test, accusing the world body of ``double standards.''

``This clearly testifies that the Security Council has completely lost its impartiality and still persists in applying double standards in its work,'' ambassador Pak Gil Yon told the Security Council. He said the country was ready for talks but warned that Pyongyang would consider increased U.S. pressure a declaration of war.

Highlights of sanctions

These are the highlights of the Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea:

Calls upon countries to take ``cooperative'' action through inspection of cargo to and from North Korea to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and related materials;

Decides that North Korea should abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and ballistic missiles programmes in a ``complete, verifiable and irreversible'' manner;

Bans trade with North Korea on battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems;

Bans trade with North Korea in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology that could contribute to the country's nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes;

Bans luxury goods going to North Korea;

Decides all countries should freeze funds, other financial assets and economic resources that are owned, controlled, directly or indirectly by people engaged in or providing support for North Korea's unconventional weapons;

Allows a travel ban on people and their families supporting or promoting North Korea's policies on dangerous weapons programmes, providing names are approved by a Security Council sanctions committee;

Encourages efforts to intensify diplomatic efforts, refrain from any actions that might aggravate tension and to facilitate the early resumption of the six-party talks — between North Korea, South Korea, the United States, Russia, China and Japan — aimed at convincing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. — Agencies

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