North Korea rejects UN resolution to impose sanctions

(Vatican Radio) North Korea on Saturday formally rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution that imposes sanctions and demands – again -- that it halt its nuclear-arms work. China's government called for calm.

North Korea's foreign ministry lashed out at this week's sanctions, calling them "clear proof" that the U.N. is doing the work of the United States. It said Washington aims to bring down the Pyongyang government "by disarming and suffocating it economically."

North Korea's ally China backed the sanctions, but its foreign minister on Saturday called for calm. Yang Jiechi said sanctions are not a "fundamental" solution: what is needed, he said, is "dialogue and consultations."

Observers say it is unclear what, in the short-term, can relieve the tension. Military exercises are taking place right now on both sides of border between North and South Korea, and some warn the North might launch some kind of limited offensive, as it did three years ago, when it shelled a South Korean island and allegedly sank a South Korean warship.

Tensions will rise further on Monday, the day North Korea said it would rip up the armistice agreement which 60 years ago called a halt to the Korean War.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s full report: