China backs stronger sanctions on North Korea but Russia resists

September 8, 2017

The National:

China on Thursday said it would agree to new UN sanctions on North Korea over its latest nuclear test, while Russian president Vladimir Putin resisted pressure from Japan and South Korea to support such measures.

“Given the new developments on the Korean peninsula, China agrees that the UN Security Council should respond further by taking necessary measures,” Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said.

However, “sanctions and pressure are only half of the key to resolving the issue”, Mr Wang said. “The other half is dialogue and negotiation.”

The United States is demanding that the United Nations slap an oil embargo on North Korea in response to its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sunday, and a freeze on the foreign assets of its leader Kim Jong-un.

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