However, North Korea claimed a special status under the NPT as a result of its suspended withdrawal, and it continued to bar both the special inspection and regular inspections under the safeguards agreement. North Korea approached the IAEA in January 1994, offering a single inspection, less comprehensive than those conducted by the IAEA in 1992. The IAEA's Board of Governors then convened an emergency meeting and decided to notify the U.N. Security Council. If a total consensus cannot be secured, the next task is to influence any dissenting governments among the Permanent Five to abstain instead of vetoing any resolution on North Korea. Adoption of a Security Council resolution requires affirmative votes by 9 of 15 members and no negative votes from a permanent member.
China is the government most likely to dissent.
The Chinese Government states that it opposes the development of nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula, but it repeatedly declares that it opposes the employment of pressure against North Korea, including economic and military sanctions. It has reemphasized its position with regard to Security Council consideration of the North Korean case. However, the Chinese Government has not said whether it would veto any proposed resolutions on North Korea, including any resolutions that stipulated sanctions. If China does not veto a particular resolution, it could be expected to abstain. Christopher Says U.S. Stays Firm on Korea But Pledges Diplomacy.