UK reiterates ‘diplomatic solution’ to growing tension

DOWNING Street has restated the UK’s “overwhelming” preference for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the crisis over nuclear tests by North Korea.

The comments came as the United Nations Security Council prepared for an emergency meeting in New York, with Donald Trump’s administration warning that any threat to the US or its allies would trigger a “massive military response” against the secretive east Asian state.

At a regular Westminster media briefing yesterday, a Number 10 spokeswoman told reporters: “As the Prime Minister made clear yesterday, and the Foreign Secretary made clear, our focus is on working with partners to increase pressure on North Korea and find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.”

Pressed over whether military action, including a nuclear strike, would be an appropriate response, the spokeswoman said: “We’ve condemned the test in the strongest possible terms. We are calling for tougher action to have North Korea stop this dangerous and destabilising activity. Our focus is on how we increase pressure and come to a peaceful solution, including at the UN today... It’s our view in the UK overwhelmingly that peaceful diplomatic means are best.”

Mrs May made clear during her visit to Japan last week that she wanted to look at the possibility of increasing the pace of implementation of sanctions on the Pyongyang regime.

Asked whether this could include an oil blockade, the spokeswoman said: “Our view is that there are further sanctions we could consider. There are lots of additional restrictions we could look at on a range of imports and things like restrictions on North Korean workers overseas.”