UNSC to vote on US draft resolution to tighten sanctions on N. Korea
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The US draft resolution would tighten sanctions on vessels involved in North Korea's nuclear or ballistic missile programs.
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UN Security Council members attend a meeting at the UN's headquarters in New York City.
The United Nations Security Council will vote Thursday on a US-drafted resolution to tighten sanctions on North Korea following Pyongyang's multiple missile launches this year, a source reported as quoted by Sputnik.
The source added, on Wednesday, that "the vote is expected tomorrow."
North Korea launched three ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan Wednesday, all from the Sunan area of Pyongyang.
In response to the launches, South Korea and the United States launched missiles on the same day, according to the Yonhap news agency, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The South Korean military has also dispatched around 30 F-15K fighter planes.
According to a draft obtained by Sputnik, the resolution would tighten sanctions on vessels involved in North Korea's nuclear or ballistic missile programs.
The bill would also forbid North Korea from exporting mineral fuels, mineral oils, and other distillation products, as well as bituminous substances, mineral waxes, clocks, and watches. The resolution would also prohibit all members of the United Nations Security Council from importing these products.
The resolution would prohibit all UN Security Council member states from providing tobacco or manufactured tobacco substitutes to North Korea, either directly or indirectly.
The measure would also prohibit nationals of UN Security Council member states from receiving technological services from North Korea.
Furthermore, the resolution would authorize UN Security Council members to seize and dispose of items prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
In response, the spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations told reporters that the US-drafted resolution to strengthen UN sanctions on North Korea will not resolve any problems.
"China has proposed to consider a PRST [Statement of the President of the Security Council] in past weeks. Our proposal was supported by many delegations but fell on deaf ears of the US. They know what the best way for de-escalation is but simply resist it," the spokesperson added.
It is worth mentioning that South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously vowed to push for new UN sanctions resolution in response to the launches, according to media reports.
These developments came just days after Biden visited South Korea and just hours after he returned to Washington from his trip to Japan.
