Reuters:
China said on Tuesday it hoped for a “clear” message to be sent with new UN sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, but would not comment on the draft, saying there had been too much speculation about the details.
The Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday to impose new sanctions on North Korea for its fifth and largest nuclear test, slashing Pyongyang’s export earnings by some $800 million, diplomats say.
Diplomats say the council’s five veto-wielding powers – the United States, China, Britain, Russia and France – have agreed to new measures, seen by Reuters on Friday, that largely target the hermit Asian state’s coal export earnings.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China supported further action against North Korea, but that it should be targeted and not harm normal humanitarian, civilian or development needs.
“At present the Security Council members are having consultations on the draft,” Geng told a daily news briefing.
“We hope Security Council members can reach consensus on the draft as soon as possible, to send a clear and united message.”
North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and missile tests. It conducted its latest nuclear test on Sept. 9, and the United States and China, North Korea’s most important diplomatic and economic backer, spent more than two months negotiating new sanctions….
