Russia wants no use of force in UN sanctions

Moscow, Oct 14: Sanctions on North Korea should not even hint at a use of military force, Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying today.

''The sanctions should not even hint at a possible use of military force and should not be aimed against the people of North Korea,'' Mr Ivanov said after meeting China's special envoy Tang Jiaxuan in Moscow.

The UN Security Council expects to impose arms and financial sanctions on North Korea today for its reported nuclear weapons test.

Seeking to meet objections from China and Russia, the latest version of the US-drafted resolution makes clear the measures do not include military force under Chapter seven of the UN Charter.

The resolution has never threatened force but China wanted to make sure the measure would not be used to justify military action against North Korea.

Mr Ivanov also said that sanctions should not be indefinite and should be lifted if North Korea returns to negotiations. China and Russia, who both hold veto power on the United States Security Council, both condemned North Korea's nuclear test.

''We have a common opinion with China that means of political pressure introduced by the Security Council should not be of an indefinite nature,'' Mr Ivanov said.

''It means that if North Korea returns to six-party talks and these talks achieve progress, sanctions, if they are introduced, should be automatically lifted,'' Mr Ivanov said.

The six-party talks, which involve the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, have been stalled for nearly a year. Russia's envoy to North Korea said yesterday the country signalled it was ready to return to talks.

''We call on everyone involved, especially on North Korea, to resume the six-party talks,'' Tang Jiaxuan said after the talks with Ivanov, adding that UN sanctions on North Korea should be ''balanced and moderate''.

REUTERS