WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama spoke with the leaders of South Korea and Japan following North Korea’s recent...
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama spoke with the leaders of South Korea and Japan following North Korea’s recent launch using ballistic missile technology and reassured them of the United States’ support, the White House said on Tuesday.
Obama spoke with the two leaders by phone separately on Monday night, according to the White House, condemning North Korea’s actions and calling for a strong international response, including a United Nations Security Council resolution.
The UN Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned North Korea’s rocket launch and promised to take action, while Washington vowed to ensure the 15-nation body imposed "serious consequences" on Pyongyang as soon as possible.
However, China, North Korea’s key ally and a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council, has resisted harsh sanctions sought by the United States and South Korea following the North’s Jan 6 test of a nuclear device Pyongyang claimed is a hydrogen bomb.
A senior US official said on Monday that China agrees any new UN resolution on North Korea will include additional sanctions and go beyond previous steps, but Washington is urging Beijing to put even more pressure on Pyongyang.
China is in "unique position" as North Korea´s neighbour and ally to compel it to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, the official told Reuters.
"It´s clear to me that our Chinese friends have indicated that the UN Security Council´s response will include sanctions and does need to go beyond previous resolutions," he said.
"The key of course is what exactly are the specific actions that we are going to take together and that’s the focus of our efforts right now," the official said.
"We have made clear that China can do more and needs to do more."
Proposed sanctions have not been made public, but one diplomat told Reuters that Washington was hoping to tighten international restrictions on North Korea´s banking system.
Beijing was reluctant to support that step for fear of worsening conditions in its impoverished neighbour, the diplomat said.
The United States and South Korea announced after the missile test they had begun formal discussions about the possibility of deploying an advanced missile defense system to which China has objected, arguing it could undermine its strategic deterrent.