N Korea warns South on sanctions taskforce

South Korea said today it has formed a task force to decide how to impose UN sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test, while its government’s chief of reconciliation with the North offered to resign over the test.

Media reports said that upon hearing the news, warnings were issued against South Korea joining international sanctions.

“If the South Korean authorities end up joining US-led moves to sanction and stifle (the North) we will regard it as a declaration of confrontation against its own people ... and take corresponding measures,” said North Korea’s committee for the peaceful reunification of the fatherland, in a statement carried by the official Korean central news agency.

British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott reiterated support for sanctions today after meeting with South Korean prime minister Han Myung-sook.

Mr Prescott said the UN resolution “clearly expresses the will of the international community that North Korea should cease immediately all further nuclear testing.”

The North’s October 9 nuclear test outraged the international community, prompting the UN Security Council to unanimously adopt a sanctions resolution on October 14, although South Korea has been reluctant to adopt stern measures against its neighbour.

The UN resolution against the nuclear test calls for all member countries to state their plans on how to implement sanctions on the North.

Seoul has formed an interagency task force to draw up a report and the team held its first meeting yesterday.

South Korea’s participation in sanctioning the North is important because the country is one of the main aid providers to the impoverished communist state, along with China.