The United Nations Security Council has agreed on tough new sanctions against North Korea over its missile programme.
A resolution banning North Korean exports and limiting investments in the country was passed unanimously.
China’s ambassador to the UN welcomed the united front but criticised the US deployment of the Thaad anti-missile system in South Korea.
“The deployment of the THAAD system will not bring a solution to the issue of North Korea’s nuclear testing and missile launching,” he said. “What it will do, is seriously undermine the strategic balance of the region.”
The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said it was “the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation”.
The US led resolution passed by the SC on N. Korea will be a loss of 1/3 of their exports = over $1 billion in hard currency #ANewDayAtTheUN pic.twitter.com/gnursgwfCV— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) August 5, 2017
“What’s next is completely up to North Korea. We hope they respond by stopping the irresponsible nuclear activity, we hope they respond by now using those revenues to feed their people instead of going into reckless nuclear programmes but the ball is now in North Korea’s court.”
The US-drafted measure, negotiated with North Korea’s neighbour and ally China, is aimed at increasing economic pressure on Pyongyang to return to negotiations on its nuclear and missile programmes.
The United Nations Security Council just voted 15-0 to sanction North Korea. China and Russia voted with us. Very big financial impact!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2017
