United Nations slaps sanctions on North Koreans amid U.S. warning

China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Liu Jieyi address the U.N. Security Council after resolution vote to sanction North Korea Friday
Mattis says US committed to Asia-Pacific as allies seek clear policy
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03 June, 2017

Japan's navy and air force began a three-day military exercise with two US aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan on Thursday adding pressure on North Korea to halt an accelerating ballistic missile programme.

Russia chose to support the measure despite Kremlin anger over Washington s move to impose U.S. sanctions on two Russian firms that do business with North Korea.

Speaking at the dialogue, Asia's premier security forum, Mattis said the threat from North Korea was "clear and present" and that Pyongyang had increased its pace of pursuing nuclear weapons.

"Beyond diplomatic and financial consequences, the United States remains prepared to counteract North Korean aggression through other means, if necessary", she added.

"China's declared policy of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula is our policy as well, and also that of Japan and the Republic of Korea [South Korea]", he added.

The Trump administration has completed a broad review of US options aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear and missile programme and leans more towards new sanctions and increased cooperation with Beijing.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said here on Saturday that the U.S. relations with China are important for the stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia's deputy United Nations ambassador Vladimir Safronkov, whose country borders North Korea and saw one of Pyongyang's missiles close to its waters, backed the freeze-for-freeze proposal, saying "the choice here has to be made in favor of using diplomatic tools to the maximum extent possible".

"The Department of Defence is focused on strengthening alliances, empowering countries to be able to sustain their own security, and strengthening United States military capabilities to deter war", Mattis said.

Without naming the United States but clearly referring to the Trump administration, Safronkov also warned: "Some says they will talk but under certain conditions".

The 18 names will be added to the current blacklist of 39 individuals and 42 North Korean entities already under United Nations sanctions.

In addition to the foreign intelligence chief, the resolution imposes sanctions on officials who control the media and key government and military appointments.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-nation council chose to impose travel bans and asset freezes on 14 individuals and put sanctions on two companies, one bank as well as the Strategic Rocket Force of the Korean People's Army.

The United States has struggled to slow North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, which have become a security priority given Pyongyang's vow to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

It was the first such procedure since October, leading some to speculate America was going easy on China to secure concessions on North Korea. The company would also be added to the sanctions list.

Pyongyang on Monday test-fired another rocket, the latest in a series of launches and atomic tests that have ratcheted up tensions over its quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States - something Trump has said "won't happen". The Pentagon's role, he said, is to reinforce alliances, strengthen US military capabilities to deter war in Asia, and help enable countries to sustain their own security.

"We are firmly committed to the denuclearisaton of the peninsular and opposed to nuclear tests and missile launches by North Korea", he told a news conference following a meeting with European Union leaders.

The US military last week successfully tested a ground-based missile defense system that for the first time intercepted a dummy intercontinental ballistic missile, destroying it in space. It also expresses "gravest concern" that the North's nuclear and missile activities are generating "increased tension in the region and beyond" and continue to threaten global peace and security.


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