OTHER VIEWS Limit Kim’s oil supply

In order to stop North Korea from taking reckless actions, there is no other way but for the international community, including China and Russia, to keep in step with each other and exert maximum pressure on the country, centring on the limiting of its crude-oil supply.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in response to North Korea’s sixth nuclear test.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the meeting emphatically that “only the strongest sanctions will enable us to resolve this problem through diplomacy.”

Koro Bessho, Japan’s ambassador to the UN, echoed the U.S. call, saying that the international community “must apply maximum pressure on North Korea to make the country change its policy.” Swift adoption of an effective resolution is called for.

The United States and Japan aim to include a restriction on crude oil supply to North Korea in a new resolution. This is because a reduction in crude oil shipped via China’s pipelines to North Korea would deal a serious blow to Pyongyang both economically and militarily, possibly prompting the country to change its hard-line stance.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at his country expanding its own sanctions against those enterprises doing business with North Korea, pressing China to respond positively. He is also discussing taking military measures against North Korea.

Unless China and Russia change their cautious stance toward intensifying pressure on Pyongyang, their position will invite more provocative actions from North Korea, making a peaceful solution less likely. It is important for all member countries to implement sanctions on North Korea steadily, and to reinforce international efforts to contain the country.