Threat of sanctions on North Korea

Britain is threatening to impose economic sanctions on North Korea unless it agrees to disarm its nuclear weapons or prove it does not possess them.

North Korea opened its first embassy in Britain yesterday – in Ealing, west London – proving that a country with weapons of mass destruction reaps diplomatic rewards.

Bill Rammell, a Foreign Office minister, said all countries, including the United States, were committed to a non- military solution on Korea. "This is not Iraq Mark Two," said Mr Rammell. Britain and America would not act unilaterally, he added, but would seek international support for sanctions through the United Nations. Britain hopes to persuade France, China and Russia to support the move if diplomatic efforts are exhausted.

Mr Rammell had 75 minutes of talks in London yesterday with Choe Su Hon, a North Korean vice-foreign minister. North Korea reacted angrily to the threat of sanctions, saying it would regard such a move as "the green light to a war" and would take "self-defensive measures".