Tillerson calls for fresh sanctions against North Korea as tensions escalate

THE US has called for new sanctions against North Korea and threatened to punish international companies doing banned business with the pariah nation’s nuclear and missile programmes.

Doing nothing could be “catastrophic”, senior diplomat Rex Tillerson told a special UN Security chaired.

He was speaking after Donald Trump said he would like to see a diplomatic resolution to escalating tensions with Pyongyang, but fears “we could end up having a major, major conflict”.

Amid council members’ warning Council session he about the potential for conflict, Mr Tillerson urged tougher action from China, North Korea’s main trading partner.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi countered that a solution does not lie with Beijing and suggested resuming long-stalled dialogue with Pyongyang.

North Korea may already be able to strike its US-allied neighbours with a nuclear-tipped missile, and could develop the capability to target the US mainland by the end of President Trump’s first term.

Mr Tillerson’s goals are stricter global enforcement of existing sanctions and strengthening the international resolve on North Korea so it eventually disarms. He dangled the possibility of counteracting “North Korean aggression with military action if necessary”, a threat Trump administration officials had been unusually vocal in making until recent days.

“Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences,” Mr Tillerson said.

Hoping to deter North Korea from more nuclear and missile testing, the US has sent a group of American warships led by an aircraft carrier to the region.