Free Republic

Kim's life of luxury as the people starve By Richard Spencer in Beijing (Filed: 16/10/2006) From imported lobsters to cognac and Mercedes-Benz cars, the expensive tastes of North Korea's secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, have never failed to stagger those who have witnessed his conspicuous consumption. However, his love of the finer things in life, in a country where his people have been allowed to starve, is now being challenged by the United Nations sanctions imposed at the weekend. They include a clause banning the export of luxury goods to North Korea and aim to cut off or at least greatly...

South Korea welcomes and supports UN sanctions on North Korea SEOUL, Oct 15 (AFP) Oct 15, 2006 South Korea on Sunday welcomed the United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea for its apparent nuclear test, and pledged to implement them. The foreign ministry in a statement urged the North "to fully recognise the firm stance by the international community stated in the UN Security Council resolution, accept the unified demands by the international community, abandon all of its nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes, and return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime." The ministry said Seoul, one of the communist state's...

UN slaps sanctions on North Korea China backed the text despite "reservations" on cargo checks Security Council vote The UN Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of a resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea over its claimed nuclear test.Resolution 1718 imposes weapons and financial sanctions but is not backed by the threat of military force. North Korea's UN envoy said he totally rejected the resolution and walked out. After hours of talks, China agreed to back the resolution but said it had "reservations" about provisions for cargo checks on North Korean ships. The Security Council... condemns the nuclear...