US calls for new action on Kim

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 Council session he 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 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

“We could end up having a major, major conflict”

resuming longstalled 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 two-fold: stricter global enforcement of existing sanctions and strengthening international resolve on North Korea so it eventually disarms. He dangled the possibility of counteracting “North Korean aggression with military action if necessary”.

Donald Trump sounded wistful as he reflected on his first 100 days as president, saying he “loved” his previous life and “had so many things going”.

He said his new role is “more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier”.

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