[00:01.57]BBC News with Sue Montgomery
[00:03.84]The United States has called for new sanctions on North Korea at the UN.
[00:08.36]They would for the first time target aspects of the state’s financial system.
[00:12.67]The U.S. ambassador Susan Rice said Washington had the support of China for a new draft Security Council resolution.
[00:20.30]Barbara Plett reports from the UN.
[00:22.78]Susan Rice told reporters that the draft resolution calls for strengthening existing sanctions on North Korea as well as breaking new ground.
[00:30.74]Some of the new measures include targeting diplomats, banking activities and cash transfer she said.
[00:36.00]This will be the fourth round of UN sanctions against North Korea aimed at halting its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
[00:42.55]The draft is a response to Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test and was negotiated between the US and China, North Korea’s ally on the Security Council.
[00:50.93]Ms. Rice spoke after circulating the text to council members.
[00:54.08]A vote is expected later this week.
[00:56.14]North Korea earlier warned that it would scrap the truce that ended the Korean War in response to increase sanctions
[01:03.05]and continuing military exercises by U.S. and South Korean forces.
[01:07.58]The Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro has said President Hugo Chavez is going through his most difficult hours