Philippines hails UN sanctions vs North Korea
FIRING DRILL. An undated file picture released by the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North Korean ruling Workers Party, shows a North Korean military missile firing drill at an unknown location in North Korea. According to media reports quoting South Korea's defense ministry, North Korea fired 'several' short-range missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at 10 am (0100 GMT) on March 3, 2016. File photo by Rodong Sinmun/EPA
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Thursday, March 3, hailed the United Nations (UN) resolution that imposed the "toughest sanctions so far" on North Korea after Pyongyang's "provocative" nuclear tests.
"The Philippines welcomes the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2270 (UNSCR 2270) on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement Thursday.
"The resolution, which imposes the toughest sanctions so far on DPRK, reflects the resolute stand of the international community against DPRK's provocative nuclear tests and rocket launches which pose clear threats to international peace and stability," the DFA added.
The DFA also said the Philippines "joins the international community in strongly urging" North Korea to comply with this recent UN resolution.
The Philippines said, too, that it wants North Korea "to undertake concrete steps toward denuclearization."
The UN Security Council unanimously passed the resolution adopting the toughest sanctions to date on Pyongyang over its 4th nuclear test and rocket launch.
The sanctions require all countries to inspect cargo destined for and coming from the North, in all airports and sea ports. (READ: FAST FACTS: The sweeping new sanctions on North Korea)
They also ban or restrict exports of coal, iron and iron ore, and other minerals from North Korea, and prohibit the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel.
In a show of defiance, North Korea fired 6 short-range projectiles into the sea on Thursday just hours after the UN adopted the new resolution. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com
