France wants UN to pass N.Korea resolution quickly

PARIS, Oct 10 (Reuters) France hopes the UN Security Council will quickly adopt a US-sponsored resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang said it had carried out a nuclear test, the French foreign minister said today.

The United States has drafted a resolution calling for international inspections of all cargo moving into and out of North Korea to detect weapons-related material, a freeze on any transfer or development of weapons of mass destruction and a ban on luxury goods. The draft is to be discussed today.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told parliament that the international community had an obligation to act on the level of the UN Security Council.

''The United States has prepared a resolution. At the moment we're speaking now, the UN Security Council is preparing a resolution which imposes sanctions on North Korea,'' he said.

''These sanctions particularly concern the ballistic missile programme but also the weapons of mass destruction programme. We hope that this resolution will be adopted as quickly as possible,'' Douste-Blazy said.

REUTERS BDP KP1940