Analysis ‘They want to see the colour of China’s money’: US calls for UN to impose toughest ever sanctions on North Korea
With previous sanctions resolutions, the US spent weeks and sometimes months negotiating the text with China and then presenting a resolution to the rest of the Security Council for a vote
The US called for a vote on Monday on a UN resolution that would impose the toughest ever sanctions on North Korea, a move that could lead to a showdown with the country’s biggest trading partner China and its neighbour Russia.
The Trump administration adopted a totally new approach with this resolution, circulating an American draft Tuesday and setting a vote six days later. With previous sanctions resolutions, the US spent weeks and sometimes months negotiating the text with China and then presenting a resolution to the rest of the Security Council for a vote.
Several diplomats said the US demand for a speedy council vote was aimed at putting maximum pressure on China and reflected Washington’s escalating concern over North Korea’s latest nuclear test, which its leaders touted as a hydrogen bomb, and its recent ballistic missile launch over Japan.
Britain’s UN. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, who backs “robust” new sanctions, said Thursday that the US proposals to ban all oil imports and textile exports and prohibit North Koreans from working overseas – which helps fund and fuel the country’s nuclear and missile programmes – are “a proportionate response” to its “illegal and reckless behaviour”.
Rycroft stressed that “maximum possible pressure” must be exerted on North Korea to change course and give diplomacy a chance to end the crisis.