Trump’s delight at UN sanctions on North Korea

DONALD Trump has praised new UN sanctions on North Korea as China called on the pariah state to halt its missile and nuclear tests.

The US President said they were the ‘largest ever’ and, in a sign of growing international intolerance of Kim Jongun’s activities, made a point of noting the sanctions had been backed in Beijing and Moscow.

The Trump administration cautiously embraced China’s newfound cooperation, with the country being North Korea’s economic lifeline.

It is a long-awaited sign of progress for Mr Trump’s strategy of enlisting the help of Beijing to squeeze Pyongyang diplomatically and economically.

However, the US warned it would be watching closely to ensure it did not ease up. Mr Trump touted the ‘very big financial impact’ of the sanctions.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said ‘it was a good outcome’ as he met with South Korea’s top diplomat.

The new sanctions could cut off roughly one-third of North Korea’s estimated £2.3billion in annual exports, potentially depriving the regime of funds for its weapons programmes.

All countries are now banned from importing North Korean coal, iron, lead and seafood. The US-drafted resolution follows Pyongyang’s unprecedented test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last month.