North Korea demonstrated its indignation over the latest round of United Nations sanctions against its nuclear ambitions by firing short-range projectiles in waters off the divided Korean Peninsula on Thursday. 

The isolated country fired six short-range projectiles from the coastal town of Wonsan about 10 hours after the UN Security Council (UNSC) approved new sanctions to curtail Pyongyang's efforts to build and stockpile nuclear weapons, according to a press release from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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North Korea has in the past fired missiles from the same area as a signal of defiance and anger over UN sanctions.

The six projectiles traveled off the peninsula's east coast and landed in the sea about 100 to 150 kilometers away. The projectiles were allegedly fired without prior warning to passing ships.  

The South Korean military is analyzing the situation, said South Korea's defense ministry.

Simple Message

The approval of the UNSC sanctions follows weeks of tense debate and collaboration between Washington and Beijing.  Chinese officials are said to have meticulously ensured that the new resolution addresses North Korea's weapons programs, and not have "adverse humanitarian consequences" for the people of the country. 

"The international community, speaking with one voice, has sent Pyongyang a simple message: North Korea must abandon these dangerous programs and choose a better path for its people," said US President Barrack Obama in a statement about the purpose of the sanctions.

Much of the burden of enforcing the new measures -- which, among other things, includes reduced coal exports from North Korea and the close inspection of visiting planes and vessels from the country -- will fall on China, according to Reuters.

Enforcement

When asked to comment on allegations that China had not fully enforced previous sanctions against its traditonal ally, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "China strictly abides by its relevant decisions."

The US, its western allies and Japan had earlier pressed for UNSC sanctions that went beyond Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, but Beijing was reluctant to impose measures that could destabilize its already impoverished neighbor. 

China nevertheless agreed to several hard-hitting economic measures in the latest UN resolution against its rogue neighbor.

Apart from restricting the export of coal from North Korea, the UNSC resolution also bans countries from importing iron, gold, titanium ore and other rare earth minerals from North Korea -- trade products which reportedly provides Pyongyang the revenues it needs to finance its weapons programs. 

Speaking about the UNSC sanctions, China's ambassador to the UN, Liu Jieyi, said: "Today's adoption should be a new starting point and a paving stone for political settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula."

TagsChina-North Korea relations, UN sanctions, UN Security Council resolution