The international community has hailed the U.N. Security Council’s move to, for the first time, include individuals on its sanctions list for North Korea.

U.S. ambassador to the world body, Susan Rice, said Friday that the move will serve to constrain North Korea from engaging in transactions or activities that could fund its programs related to weapons of mass destruction or proliferation.

The U.S. also expressed hope for a change in China’s attitude toward the North, saying that China, traditionally a North Korean ally, must join international efforts to pressure the North if progress in denuclearization is to be made.

Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu called the measures "a major achievement."

British ambassador to the U.N., John Sawers, said he believes the council’s recent move will contribute greatly to pressuring the North to denuclearize.

Turkey's U.N. Ambassador Fazli Corman, who is also chairman of the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee, said the fact that individuals were included on the sanctions list is highly significant.