Senior U.S. officials shuttle in Middle East for implementing sanctions on DPRK

A U.S. interagency delegation has been in the Middle East for coordinating implementation of the1874 UN Security Council Resolution on Pyongyang's nuclear and missile and proliferation activities, said the State Department on Friday.

The delegation, led by U.S. coordinator for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874 Philip Goldberg, were in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday with "meetings with Emirati officials regarding the implementation of sanctions on North Korea," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.

The delegation will also visit Egypt on Sunday, said the spokesman, adding that the United States will continue coordination with other countries in order that the UN resolution could be effectively implemented.

"This is part of his overall effort to ensure that the UN Security Council resolution and other relevant resolutions are implemented. ... He will continue to meet with partners, not only in the Middle East, but also, of course, in Asia," said Kelly.

Before their Middle East tour, Goldberg and other delegation officials have visited Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.

"I think that these are countries that can help us identify areas where we can deal with this problem of proliferation from North Korea," said Kelly.

The Obama administration has voiced to enforce sanctions set in the 1874 UN Security Council Resolution, which condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its May 25 underground nuclear test that has obviously threatened the Asian-Pacific region's security and stability.

The resolution banned all weapons exports from the DPRK and most arms imports into the country, authorized UN member states to inspect the DPRK's sea, air and land cargo and required them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.

Source: Xinhua