Tillerson to lay United Nations groundwork to boost North Korea sanctions

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday urged the global community to increase pressure on North Korea, saying that failing to do so would bring "catastrophic consequences".

The United States has called for stronger UN sanctions on North Korea, but it wants China to take the lead in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis by using its leverage on Pyongyang.

"With each successive detonation and missile test North Korea pushes northeast Asia and the world closer to instability and broader conflict", Tillerson told the 15-member council.

"Over the years, we have withdrawn our own nuclear weapons from South Korea and offered aid to North Korea as proof of our intent to de-escalate the situation and normalize relations", Tillerson said.

The Security Council meeting followed weeks of warnings from the U.S. administration that it is running out of patience with Pyongyang.

All options remain on the table as the USA and its partners pursue a campaign that will be "swiftly implemented and painful" to North Korea in order to resolve a problem that has puzzled world leaders for decade. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi countered that a solution doesn't lie with Beijing and suggested resuming a long-stalled dialogue with Pyongyang.

Talking to reporters, he repeated a proposal for North Korea to suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for a suspension of large-scale U.S.

South Korea said on Wednesday major elements of the system were moved into the planned site in the south of the country and the deployment would be complete for its full operation by the end of this year.

Recent tensions between North Korea and the United States intensified as the Trump administration started taking a more confrontational stance with Pyongyang.

"Any further provocations, including nuclear tests, should be met promptly by an even more stringent resolution by the Security Council", he said.

"We will only engage in talks with North Korea when they exhibit a good-faith commitment to abiding by the Security Council resolutions and their past promises to end their nuclear programs", Tillerson said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable".

The Trump administration is willing to have direct negotiations with North Korea if Pyongyang purses giving up its nuclear weapons, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"Now is the time to seriously consider talks", said Wang. "One ill thought-out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences".

The missile was said to have failed, according to USA media reports, and didn't reach the Sea of Japan.

"There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible", he said.

Japan's foreign minister Fumio Kishida urged the worldwide community to send a message to Pyongyang that provocation comes at a high price.