US says North Korea is ‘begging for war’
NORTH KOREA is “begging for war”, the US said yesterday, as it called for the strongest possible sanctions against the rogue state following an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Nikki Haley, the United States ambassador to the UN, said “enough is enough” following a sixth nuclear test by Pyongyang, and described calls by China and Russia for the US to tone down its rhetoric as “insulting”.
“When a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon, and an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile pointed at you, you do not take steps to lower your guard,” she said. Yesterday Pyongyang was reported to be preparing for another ICBM test, to follow on from Sunday’s nuclear test – a move that would be deeply provocative, and emphasise Ms Haley’s point that 24 years of diplomacy have failed. The United Kingdom and France joined calls for further sanctions against North Korea, but the UNSC’S two other permanent members, China and Russia, both warned against taking hasty measures.
President Vladimir Putin called his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, yesterday with both men condemning the test and Mr Putin emphasising that he believed diplomacy was the only solution. Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, said that any “clumsy steps” could make the situation worse, and a political resolution was needed.
“Those who are stronger and smarter should show restraint,” he said. “Any clumsy step could lead to an explosion.”
China, North Korea’s protector, echoed Russia in condemning the test, but urged the North and South to focus on working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has left the Korean Peninsula divided since the Fifties. Describing the situation as a “vicious circle”, Liu Jieyi, China’s ambassador to the UN, said: “China will never allow chaos and war on the Peninsula.”
During a call last night, Mr Trump told Mr Moon that he supports South Korea’s push to lift restrictions on its missile payload capabilities, the White House said. Mr Trump also offered “conceptual approval” on the purchase of billions of dollars’ worth of US military weapons and equipment by South Korea.
The White House said the pair agreed “to maximise pressure on
North Korea using all means at their disposal”. But Mr Trump has boxed himself into an uncomfortable situation, having lashed out at Seoul for being naive with their suggestions of diplomacy, and seething at the trade deficit between the two countries.
Angela Merkel and Mr Trump spoke by phone yesterday after which the German government said that Mrs Merkel had agreed with the need for stronger sanctions. Switzerland yesterday offered to be a mediator.
South Korea responded to North Korea’s nuclear test yesterday with livefire drills off its eastern coast. Their defence minister, Song Young-moo, said he believes the North has successfully miniaturised a nuclear weapon to fit on to a missile.
North Korea said that its enemies are “hell-bent on escalating confrontation”, as it launched a scathing attack on the “warmongers” in Seoul. Ms Haley announced that the US was circulating a draft sanctions resolution, to be be voted on by Monday of next week.
The council aimed to take a big bite out of the North Korean economy earlier this month by banning the North from exporting coal, iron, lead and seafood products – about a third of the country’s $3billion (£2.3billion) in exports last year. Options now being considered are believed to include a ban on other exports, such as oil imports.
“Dialogue will always be our end goal,” said Matthew Rycroft, Britain’s ambassador to the UN. “But returning to dialogue without a serious sign of intent from Pyongyang would be a set up to failure.
“North Korea must change course to allow a return to dialogue. Were they to do so, the opportunity exists to end this crisis.” textiles, or restricting