United Nations
Non-Proliferation

After North Korea conducted the second nuclear test, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying the Chinese Government was "firmly opposed to this act". In its aftermath (and possibly in violation of Article III of the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance), China lent support to the Security Council Resolution 1874 which imposed an enhanced package of sanctions on North Korea, including calling upon UN members to inspect cargo vessels and airplanes suspected of carrying military materials in or out of North Korea. However, China insisted that the sanctions must be "appropriate and balanced", and emphasised that no country should threaten the use of force when it came to inspecting cargoes, since that was not authorised by the resolution. An FM spokesman also said inspection of North Korean vessels would require "sufficient evidence".