The Hindu : IAEA refers N. Korea stand-off to U.N. Council

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

International

International

IAEA refers N. Korea stand-off to U.N. Council

VIENNA feb. 12. Raising the stakes in the nuclear stand-off with North Korea, the U.N. nuclear agency on Wednesday reported the reclusive communist country to the Security Council for violating its international obligations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors made the decision — its last resort after months of intransigence by Pyongyang — in an emergency closed-door session in the afternoon at the agency's headquarters in Vienna.

Russia and Cuba abstained from the vote, which sets the stage for possible sanctions. ``We consider the sending of this question to the U.N. Security Council to be a premature and counterproductive step,'' said Russia's representative in a statement.

North Korea has not met its obligations under international nuclear accords, and the U.N. watchdog agency said it ``remains unable to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material'' for weapons use. The IAEA urged the North to comply, but also said it ``in parallel stresses its desire for a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue and its support for diplomatic means to that end.''

— AP

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