North Korea 'fires projectiles' into sea hours after UN vote

It comes hours after the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose some of its strongest ever sanctions against North Korea.

A South Korean spokesman told the Yonhap news agency the projectiles were fired at about 10:00 local time (01:00 GMT) from Wonsan on the east coast.

He said they were still trying to determine exactly what was fired.

Yonhap quoted officials as saying all the objects fell into the sea.

The new UN measures are a response to North Korea's recent nuclear test and satellite launch, both of which violated existing sanctions.

They will result in all cargo going to and from the country being inspected, while 16 new individuals and 12 organisations have been blacklisted.

The United States and North Korea's long-standing ally China spent seven weeks discussing the new sanctions.

What exactly is banned?

The export of coal, iron and iron ore used for North Korea's nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.

All gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, rare earth minerals and aviation fuel exports.

Any item (except food and medicine) that could develop North Korea's armed forces.

Small arms and light weapons are now included in an arms embargo.

Upmarket watches, watercraft, snowmobiles and other recreational sports equipment added to a ban on luxury goods.

No vessels or airplanes can be leased or registered to North Korea.

What are the other measures?

Member states must inspect all cargo to and from North Korea, not just those suspected of containing prohibited items.

An asset freeze on North Korean funds linked to nuclear and missile programmes.

Foreign financial institutions cannot open new offices in North Korea without approval, and North Korean banks cannot open offices abroad.

US President Barack Obama said the international community was "speaking with one voice" to tell the North it "must abandon these dangerous programmes and choose a better path for its people".

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye welcomed the sanctions, saying she hoped the North "will now abandon its nuclear development programme and embark on a path of change".

North Korea insists its missile programme is purely scientific in nature, but the US, South Korea and even its ally China say such launches like the one which put a satellite in orbit last month are aimed at developing inter-continental ballistic missiles.

The North claimed its January nuclear test - the fourth since 2006 - was a test of its hydrogen bomb technology.

(BBC)