Turning to diplomacy after flexing military muscle, the United States will urge the UN Security Council on Friday to increase economic pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, leaning on China in particular to turn the screws on its wayward ally. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with his counterparts from allies Japan and South Korea and was set to chair a ministerial meeting of the UN’s top decision-making body.
The US wants to tighten the implementation of sanctions and build international resolve to isolate North Korea so it eventually disarms. That’s a goal that has eluded U.S. administrations for two decades, and the threat is intensifying. North Korea may already be able to strike its US-allied neighbors with a nuclear-tipped missile, and could have the US mainland within range by the end of President Donald Trump’s first term.