Global crackdown on North Korea begins

A global crackdown on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme began today, with countries divided over how to enforce UN sanctions in a foreboding sign that imposing the punitive measures may not be easy.

Japan and Australia, staunch critics of North Korea, prepared harsher penalties against the Communist regime, South Korea was staying silent on details of its plans, and China, a major source of leverage over Pyongyang, refused to partake in certain measures.