Sept. 9 (UPI) — The United States called on the U.N. Security Council to vote on increased sanctions against North Korea after its most recent nuclear test.
On Friday night, the U.S. mission to the United Nations announced the move to request a vote on Monday to the Security Council, Politico reported.
President Donald Trump and his administration are pushing for the vote, as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un works toward achieving the capability to strike the U.S. with nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles.
North Korea completed its sixth underground bomb test last weekend, prompting the U.S. to consider “massive military response” in addition to seeking increased sanctions.
Bloomberg reported the Trump administration has urged the Security Council to adopt a united stance on North Korea and Kim, who has said he won’t negotiate unless the U.S. drops its “hostile” policies.
A draft of the U.S. resolution would bar crude oil shipments to North Korea, ban the nation’s exports of textiles and prohibit employment of its guest workers by other countries.
Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera suggested implementing stronger economic penalties to encourage North Korea to alter its behavior.
“Oil sanctions are the most effective sanctions, so I’d like to strongly ask for this,” he said.
China and Russia expressed a desire to focus on coaxing Kim into negotiations, although China’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said he agreed it is necessary to impose further sanctions on North Korea.
