United States presents sanctions resolution on North Korea

In the wake of North Korea’s nuclear weapons test last month and its long-range missile test in early February, the US and China have agreed on a draft United Nations resolution imposing new sanctions on Pyongyang. The resolution is expected to be adopted two to four days later.

The draft resolution does not censure North Korea for its human rights violations, which have been painstakingly documented by a UN Commission of Inquiry.

Jieyi said China was working very closely with other members of the Security Council and that he hoped the resolution “would achieve the objective of denuclearization” and result in “peace and stability”. North Korea wants to be recognized as a nuclear state, which Washington has said it will never do.

The consideration of the US-sponsored UN Security Council’s draft resolution on toughening sanction against North Korea (DPRK) will be possible only next week, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN Pyotr Ilyichev told reporters on Thursday.

The sanctions include a provision in which all United Nations member states can inspect cargo to and from North Korea.

In the past, after previous nuclear tests condemned by the Security Council, China has agreed only to banning weapons transfers and limited sanctions against those linked to the nuclear programme.

The draft did not include a ban on exporting oil to North Korea, and in, perhaps, a compromise to China, includes a line stating that the measures are not meant to have “adverse humanitarian consequences for civilian population of North Korea”.

China’s top nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei visited South Korea on Sunday to discuss the countries’ responses to recent actions by North Korea. “I think we’re realistic on that point”. It vowed to “turn US military installations in the Asia-Pacific region and the USA mainland into ashes” should the USA fail to come to its senses.

Their remarks were a second day of messaging North Korea about its nuclear ambitions. “By far the most significant measure – again if enforced – is the willingness of China to go after North Korea’s commercial trade by restricting – and perhaps even banning – mineral imports”.

They “send a clear message to the North Korean regime: (.) we will work tirelessly and collectively to stop your nuclear program”, she added.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said “a convincing explanation must be provided to China” and “legitimate national interests must be upheld in the process” as the United States looks set to deploy the THAAD missile defense system in the Republic of Korea.

A diplomatic source in Beijing that it would be hard to determine what “livelihood purposes” are in bilateral trade between North Korea and China.

China had already banned port calls from North Korean vessels before the announcement was made.

The resolution is going to be described as the toughest yet on Pyongyang.

Also new, countries will be required, not just encouraged, to freeze the assets of North Korean entities linked to Pyongyang’s nuclear or missile programs and to prohibit the opening of new branches or offices of North Korean banks or to engage in banking correspondence with North Korean banks.

There are also signs that South Korea might be willing to accept a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from the US after hesitating out of concern over upsetting China and Russian Federation, which claim the missile defense system could be used against them.