The UN Security Council unanimously backed a US-drafted resolution to strengthen sanctions on North Korean exports in response to Pyongyang’s intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
The 15-member body yesterday strongly condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on July 3 and 28 which the country has stated were of “intercontinental” range.
The US-drafted resolution includes the strongest sanctions ever imposed in response to a North Korean ballistic missile test and targets its main exports, slashing their annual revenue by $1 billion.
“The Security Council increased the penalty of North Korea’s ballistic missile activity to a whole new level. North Korea’s irresponsible and careless acts have just proved to be quite costly to the regime.
“This resolution is the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against the North Korean regime. The price the North Korean leadership will pay for its continued nuclear and missile development will be the loss of one-third of its exports and hard currency. This is the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation,” US Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said.
“The United States is taking — and will continue to take — prudent defensive measures to protect ourselves and our allies. Our annual joint military exercises, for instance, are transparent, and defense-oriented. They have been carried out regularly and openly for nearly 40 years.