North Korea fires short-range missiles towards Japan after the UN votes for harsher sanctions against the rogue state
- Missiles fired in sea between North Korea and Japan, east of South Korea
- Hours after sanctions passed by UN Security Council after weeks of talks
- Forces all countries to inspect all cargo going in and out of North Korea
- Restricts export of coal - worth $1billion a year to N Korea - and minerals
North Korea have fired short range missiles into the Sea of Japan in what will be seen as a major show of force to their neighbours.
The threat, which could potentially launch conflict between the two nations, comes after the UN voted for harsher sanctions against the rogue nation, approved by member state Japan.
The Security Council unanimously passed a resolution imposing new sanctions after seven weeks of arduous negotiations between the United States and China, Pyongyang's sole ally.
North Korea have fired short range missiles into the Sea of Japan in what will be seen as a major show of force to their Japanese neighbours. File picture
It comes after the United Nations Security Council voted on a resolution during a meeting at UN headquarters yesterday, imposing the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades
Among the unprecedented measures is a new requirement that all countries must inspect cargo destined for and coming from North Korea, in all airports and sea ports.
The resolution bans or restricts exports of coal, iron and iron ore and other minerals from North Korea, and prohibits the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel.
North Korea earns about $1billion (£710million) per year in coal exports - a third of all export revenues - and about $200 million annually from iron ore sales, US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council.
South Korea's military was trying to determine if the projectiles launched were short-range missiles or artillery fire, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
They claim the North's launches also come shortly after Seoul approved its first legislation on human rights in North Korea
A total of 212 South Korean lawmakers voted for the bill and 24 others abstained in the floor vote. It becomes law when it is endorsed by the Cabinet Council, considered a formality.
North Korea's state media has warned that enactment of the law would result in "miserable ruin" ahead of its passing, along with trade restrictions approved by the UN.
US President Barack Obama welcomed the sanctions as 'a firm, united, and appropriate response' to the January 6 nuclear test and February 7 rocket launch.
'The international community, speaking with one voice, has sent Pyongyang a simple message: North Korea must abandon these dangerous programs and choose a better path for its people,' Obama said in a statement.
Banking restrictions will be tightened and governments will be required to ban flights of any plane suspected of carrying contraband destined for North Korea.
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said she hoped the 'unprecedentedly tough' sanctions would push Pyongyang into finally abandoning its nuclear weapons programme
The resolution tightens an arms embargo by banning sales of small arms and bars vessels suspected of carrying illegal goods for North Korea from ports.
'These are among the toughest measures we have agreed against any country in the world, certainly the toughest ever against the DPRK,' said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, referring to North Korea by its official acronym.
Under the measure, UN member states will expel North Korean diplomats engaged in smuggling or other illegal activities.
A total of 16 individuals and 12 entities were added to a UN sanctions blacklist, including North Korea's NADA space agency and its spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
Luxury watches, snowmobiles, recreational watercraft such as Sea-Doos and sports equipment are banned from sale to North Korea, in sanctions targeting Pyongyang's elites.
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