EU tightens sanctions against North Korea

European Union governments agreed yesterday to tighten sanctions against North Korea, restricting the country’s ability to trade following last week’s nuclear test.

The sanctions expand those approved by the United Nations Security Council in January, adding measures preventing trading in North Korean government bonds, gold, precious metals, and diamonds, EU diplomats said.

Speaking in Brussels, Germany’s foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said: “We have pushed for enhancing the sanctions. This is the answer to a nuclear programme which endangers not only the region but the whole security architecture worldwide.”

The sanctions ban components that could be used in ballistic missiles. North Korea was widely condemned last week after the latest nuclear test.