Major powers agree on UN punitive measures against DPRK

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The five permanent members of the UN Security Council along with Japan and South Korea have agreed on a draft resolution.

This, in response to last month's nuclear tests by the DPRK. The Security Council could adopt the resolution within two days after some diplomats consult their capitals.

Major world and regional powers agreed on a range of punitive measures against the DPRK.

Wednesday's draft resolution allows foreign countries to stop and search ships leading to and from the DPRK, pending approval from the country whose flag the vessel is flying.

The draft requires that countries should not provide fuel or other supplies to DPRK vessels if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they are carrying prohibited weapons or other items.

The agreement would ban Pyongyang from exporting all weapons. This would eliminate a significant source of revenue for the country.

The draft also seeks to curtail the country's financial dealings with the outside world, and freeze assets of DPRK companies.

U.S. UN Ambassador Susan Rice speaks to the media at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, June 10, 2009. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Japan and South Korea on Wednesday reached agreement on a draft resolution in response to the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a diplomat said. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)