N.K. says U.N. sanctions on rocket launch will lead to rupture of six-party nuclear

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned Tuesday that the six-party nuclear
talks will collapse if the United Nations imposes sanctions against its rocket
launch, saying such punitive measures violate a multilateral agreement on mutual
respect.
"If such a hostile activity is carried out under the name of the U.N. Security
Council, that would be a breach of the Sept. 19 joint statement by the U.N.
Security Council itself," the North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement,
referring to a 2005 accord reached at the six-party talks. The talks involve the
two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have been threatening U.N. sanctions against
North Korea's rocket launch scheduled between April 4-8, citing a Security
Council resolution adopted in 2006 that bans Pyongyang from engaging in any
missile-related activities.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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