NZ supports latest Security Council resolution on North Korea

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the latest United Nations Security Council resolution against North Korea.

The new UN Security Council resolution was unanimously agreed to this morning and is in response to North Korea’s 29 November test of an inter-continental ballistic missile.

“New Zealand strongly condemned the missile test last month” Mr Peters says. “The resolution adopted today is the fourth resolution adopted by the Security Council on North Korea this year. With it, the international community has again delivered a strong message to the North Korean regime that its continued belligerent behaviour will not be meekly accepted.

“The resolution imposes further restrictions on North Korea’s access to oil and refined petroleum, exports of North Korean products, and measures on North Korean labour overseas and maritime activity.

“New Zealand is supportive of measures which demonstrate the collective opposition of the international community to North Korea’s actions. Sanctions are an effective way of seeking to convince North Korea that its pursuit of nuclear weapons is both wrong-headed and counter-productive to its security and prosperity.

Mr Peters says every effort must be made to achieve a diplomatic solution to this stand-off.

“We urge North Korea to abide by its international obligations and take steps than towards meaningful international dialogue,” he said.

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