The UN Security Council unanimously approved sanctions against North Korea Saturday after the reclusive communist state claimed Monday to have carried out an underground nuclear weapons test.
The U.S.-drafted resolution aims at restraining North Korea's nuclear and missile potential but contained no economic sanctions or appeals for the use of force.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alekseyev said on arriving in Beijing from Pyongyang that the results of his visit to North Korea were positive but he was "cautiously optimistic" about the possible resumption of the six-nation talks.
The talks involving North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States - were launched in 2003, when the North withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but stalled last November over Pyongyang's demands that the U.S. lift sanctions imposed on it for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
He said Pyongyang was ready to prove "the international community its firm stance not to share its nuclear potential with other countries and not to use it against anyone under any circumstances."
Alexeyev said North Korea was also prepared to discuss the nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula.
"They [the North Korean side] said in the near future they would outline their further actions and measures that will be taken to resume the six-nation talks after analyzing the UN [Security Council's] resolution," said Alexeyev, who is scheduled to fly to Seoul from Beijing Sunday.
The resolution, which called North Korea's test a "clear threat to international peace and security", allows inspections of North Korean cargos, which may contain weapons of mass destruction or related supplies.
The resolution also prohibits trade with North Korea in dangerous weapons, imposes bans on heavy conventional weapons and luxury goods and urges other countries to freeze funds connected with North Korea's non-conventional arms programs.
The sanctions will be lifted as soon as Pyongyang agrees to give up its nuclear programs and returns to the six-nation talks.
U.S. President George W. Bush said the resolution showed "the world is united in our opposition to its nuclear weapons plans" and the North Korean delegation called the resolution "gangster-like" and warned that Pyongyang considered any further U.S. pressure a "declaration of war" before leaving the Security Council's meeting.
