US threatens to ‘ utterly destroy’ Kim’s regime if war breaks out
NO BACKERS FOR SANCTIONS America calls for cutting ties with North Korea but Russia rejects plan, China silent on implementing oil embargo
UNITEDNATIONS: The United States warned North Korea’ s leadership will be “utterly destroyed” if war breaks out but its call for nations to cut ties with Pyongyang was rejected by Moscow while Beijing sidestepped talk of an oil embargo.
Washington urged action at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council held on Wednesday to respond to North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
“The dictator of North Korea made a choice that brings the world closer to war, not farther from it,” US ambassador Nikki Haley told the council.
“If war comes, make no mistake: The North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed.”
But her call for nations to “cut off all ties with North Korea” was rejected by Moscow, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov saying Russia saw the proposal “negatively.”
“We have repeatedly stated that the pressure of sanctions has been exhausted,” Lavrov said.
US President Donald Trump derided Kim Jong-Un as a “sick puppy” and threatened “major” new sanctions after Pyongyang tested its third ICBM -- which it claimed was capable of striking anywhere in the United States.
The North said the weapon could land anywhere in the continental United States, and France said Europe was also in striking distance.
Kim said the test of the Hwasong-15 weapons system had helped his country achieve the goal of becoming a full nuclear power, sparking global condemnation.
Haley said Trump had called Chinese President Xi J in ping and urged him to “cut off the oil from North Korea ”, a move that would deal a crippling blow to North Korea’s economy.
“That would be a pivotal step in the world’s effort to stop this international pariah,” she said, warning that if Beijing does not act, “we can take the oil situation into our own hands.”
The United States earlier pressed for a full oil embargo on North Korea after it tested its most powerful nuclear bomb to date in September, but dropped that demand in negotiations on a sanctions resolution withChina.
The Security Council met at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea to consider next steps after three rounds of sanctions adopted in the past year failed to push North Korea to change course.
Trump--who has traded barbs with Kim for months--asked Xito use “all available levers” to press the hermit state.