The UN nuclear agency on Monday demanded that North Korea abandon its atomic weapons program voluntarily or face escalated pressure from the Security Council.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board, which includes the US, Russia and China, agreed to censure the North for reactivating suspect nuclear programs and eliminating agency controls meant to ensure that materials are not being used to make atomic weapons.
It stopped short of the next step reporting Pyongyang in breach of its international nuclear obligations to the Security Council, a move that could open the way to sanctions on the country, according to AP.
However, the resolution warned the North would be declared in "further noncompliance" of international obligations unless it lets the IAEA re-impose monitoring of its nuclear activities.
Mohamed El Baradei, the agency's director-general, told reporters any declaration of "further noncompliance ... means under our statutes (automatically) reporting the matter to the Security Council." (Albawaba.com)
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