The UN Security Council's draft resolution in response to North Korea's recent nuclear test and missile launch has been released.
The unprecedented sanctions could be imposed as early as Friday.
Kwon Soa starts us off.
It will represent the strongest sanctions against North Korea in more than two decades,… if passed.
That's according to U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power,... presenting the China-backed U.S. proposal of the new resolution's draft at the UN Security Council's meeting,... in New York Thursday.
South Korean ambassador to the UN,…Oh Joon… expressed his approval of the new sanctions, which he said are twice the strength of existing ones.

The sanctions would include mandatory inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea,... the expansion of a weapons ban,... and blacklisting 17 North Korean individuals and 12 entities.
New…are the so-called "sectoral sanctions",... a ban or restrictions on specific commodities such as coal, iron, gold, titanium, or rocket fuel.


"These sanctions, if adopted, would send an unambiguous and unyielding message to the DPRK regime - 'The world will not accept your proliferation. There will be consequences for your actions and we will work relentlessly and collectively to stop your nuclear program.'"

An official at Seoul's Foreign Ministry told reporters Friday,... there has been focus on how to ensure that sanctions are not detrimental to the people of North Korea,... stressing that they are "targeted sanctions" aimed at the regime's leadership.

The resolution could be adopted as early as Friday, Eastern Standard Time... should the 15 members convene and vote for a unanimous 'yes'.
But it may have to be approved next week,... as Russia reportedly needs more time to review the draft.

An official at the ministry said the five permanent members,.. including Russia,... reviewed the draft prior to Thursday's meeting with the other ten council members,... but that all 15 members will be subject to a new vote,