UNITED NATIONS, Oct 14: The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to adopt a compromise resolution on the nuclear test by North Korea this week and imposed punishing sanctions, declaring that Pyongyang’s action posed ‘a clear threat to international peace and security’.

The resolution calls upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to eliminate all its nuclear weapons, but rules out military action against the country — a concession to Russia and China.

The North Korean representative immediately rejected the ‘gangster-like resolution’, arguing that the Security Council had ignored ‘the nuclear threat’ made by the United States.

Resolution 1718 also calls upon Pyongyang to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. It envisages a travel ban on officials working on such programmes.

The resolution seeks a ban on the export of missiles, tanks, warships and combat aircraft to North Korea. It permits inspection of cargo to and from the North to prevent any illegal trafficking.

The vote was delayed because of concerns raised by Beijing and Moscow about the Washington-proposed draft.

The vote came after the United States, Britain and France resolved last-minute differences with Russia and China.

Washington dropped a proposal to ban the sale of conventional weapons to Pyongyang, limiting the restriction, instead, to major hardware such as tanks, warships, combat aircraft and missiles.

Before the vote, British UN envoy Sir Emyr Jones Parry described the agreed text as a ‘very, very robust response’.

US Ambassador John Bolton, in his remarks after the vote, said: “We look forward to North Korea’s full, unconditional and immediate compliance with this Security Council resolution. We hope that North Korea makes the strategic decision that the pursuit of WMD programs and threatening acts like these missile launches, make it less, not more secure.”

Talking to reporters after the vote, Mr Bolton said he was surprised by the rejection of the resolution by North Korea.

Agencies add: US President George Bush hailed the adoption of the resolution, terming it a message that the international community would not condone its ‘actions’.

“Nations around the world, including our partners in the six-party talks, agree on the need for a strong United Nations Security Council resolution that will require North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs,” Mr Bush said. He said the resolution ‘will send a clear message to the North Korean regime that its actions will not be tolerated’, and that Pyongyang will face ‘real consequences if it continues down its current path’.

On Friday, Beijing and Moscow had raised last-minute objections to the draft proposals on the table.

The two traditional allies of North Korea notably objected to any hint of the use of force, while Russia also wanted any sanctions to have time limits.

The United States had already abandoned a blanket arms embargo on North Korea in an earlier draft.