US sees most North Korea interdictions not at sea

WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) While the U N Security Council has authorized searches at sea to prevent North Korea from advancing its weapons programs, Washington hopes they can mostly be avoided by inspections at ports and on land, the U S ambassador to the United Nations today said.

''The overwhelming predominance of the inspections would take place in ports and at land crossings,'' Ambassador John Bolton told CNN's Late Edition.

The resolution passed unanimously by the U N Security Council yesterday in response to Pyongyang's saying it succesfully tested a nuclear device does not call for a sea blockade of North Korea, and interdiction of weapons of mass destruction components and other heavy weaponry can be accomplished without one, Bolton said.

''We had not proposed that (a blockade),'' he said.

Beijing has expressed opposition to sea interdictions, but ''the Chinese did vote in favor of the resolution,'' which allows nations to stop cargo going to and from North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction or related supplies.

The resolution bars trade with North Korea in dangerous weapons and also imposes bans on heavy conventional weapons and luxury goods and asks nations to freeze funds connected with North Korea's unconventional arms programs.

''I'm sure China is going to abide by the very resolution it voted for,'' said Bolton. ''How it accomplishes that I'm sure we'll have discussions on. ... I'm sure there are a lot of ways to do that.'' China also warned Security Council members not to provoke Pyongyang by ''provocative steps,'' in particular the stopping of suspicious cargo going to and leaving North Korea to check on weapons.

REUTERS SY BS1902