U.S. may soon expand U.N. talks on North Korea sanctions, signalling China deal - diplomats

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U.S. may soon expand U.N. talks on North Korea sanctions, signalling China deal - diplomats

By Michelle Nichols

 

FILE PHOTO - A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States could shortly broaden talks on a push for stronger United Nations sanctions on North Korea to include all 15 Security Council members, signalling a likely deal with China on new measures, diplomats said on Thursday.

 

Since North Korea's July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the United States has been negotiating with Pyongyang ally China on a draft resolution to impose new sanctions on North Korea, which fired a second ICBM last Friday.

 

"We have been working very hard for some time and we certainly hope that this is going to be a consensus resolution," China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi told Reuters on Thursday.

 

Some diplomats said the United States could give the draft resolution to all 15 council members as early as Thursday.

 

Typically, the United States and China have agreed sanctions on North Korea before formally involving other council members. A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, China, Russia, France or Britain to be adopted.

 

The United States has been informally keeping Britain and France in the loop on the negotiations, while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said China had been sharing the draft and negotiating with Russia.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been frustrated that China has not done more to rein in North Korea and Washington has threatened to impose new sanctions on Chinese firms doing business with Pyongyang.

 

Haley said on Sunday the United States was "done talking about North Korea" and China must decide if it is willing to back imposing stronger U.N. sanctions. But she has also acknowledged that Russia's engagement on the draft resolution would be the "true test."

 

Russia noted on Thursday that the permanent five (P5) veto powers had yet to formally discuss the draft. It was not immediately clear if poor relations between Russia and the United States, which imposed new unilateral sanctions on Russia on Wednesday, would hamper the negotiations.

 

"Even if there is an agreement between the U.S. and China, it doesn't mean there is an agreement between the P5 members," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who met with Liu earlier on Thursday and discussed a possible resolution.

 

"Maybe there is a bilateral agreement (between Beijing and Washington), but that's not a universal one," he said, adding that while he was aware of what might be in the resolution he had not seen "the draft as it stands now."

 

The U.S. mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

 

Moscow has disagreed with assessments by Western powers that Pyongyang has launched two long-range missiles, saying they were mid-range. Diplomats say China and Russia only view a test of a long-range missile or a nuclear weapon as a trigger for further possible U.N. sanctions.

 

North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs and the Security Council has ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear weapons tests and two long-range missile launches.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-04

[Rancid]

Actually, what the US needs are sanctions on it. Despite what the mainstream media may claim about Russian sanctions, it seems it has been a boom for their agricultural and manufacturing industries as they have the gear up to replace blocked imports, also been a nice concurrent boost to jobs.

 

So if the US could sanction itself it may well see industries that went offshore having to come back, in fact would be nice to see Australia also sanctioned, we could use a rebirth of our manufacturing and agricultural industries as well. Nice way to dodge the social destruction caused by globalism, which only benefits multinational bottom lines and CEO bonuses.

[craigt3365]

2 hours ago, Rancid said:

Actually, what the US needs are sanctions on it. Despite what the mainstream media may claim about Russian sanctions, it seems it has been a boom for their agricultural and manufacturing industries as they have the gear up to replace blocked imports, also been a nice concurrent boost to jobs.

 

So if the US could sanction itself it may well see industries that went offshore having to come back, in fact would be nice to see Australia also sanctioned, we could use a rebirth of our manufacturing and agricultural industries as well. Nice way to dodge the social destruction caused by globalism, which only benefits multinational bottom lines and CEO bonuses.

Wow...what a stretch!  Even Putin admits the sanctions are hurting his economy.  But, this is all off topic.

[Kabula]

Is that after the Washington D.C., military coup or after Trump's, kangaroo court, Grand Jury impeachment proceeding announced today! Or after the new laws proposed that will create problems for his Defense? I wonder if he will even return to the White House battle grounds after his vacation?