Agreement of 20 Countries to Intensify Sanctions Against North Korea

As 20 countries around the world agreed to intensify sanctions against North Korea to compel the country to abandon its nuclear weapons program, the U.S. Secretary of State also threatened Pyongyang with potential military action. Reuters reported on Wednesday (January 17) that this decision was made during a one-day meeting of representatives from 20 member countries of the international coalition in the Korean War, hosted jointly by the U.S. and Canada in Vancouver. This meeting was held to increase pressure on North Korea, a country that is unwilling to abandon its nuclear and missile military activities. While U.S. officials have indicated discussions in the Trump administration regarding the necessity of focusing more on military options concerning North Korea, Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, did not provide a clear answer to reporters' questions on this matter during the meeting. Mr. Tillerson told reporters that he did not wish to take a position on a subject that the 'National Security Council and the President of the United States' have not yet decided on. However, he spoke of the increasing 'threat' from North Korea and warned that if the country does not engage in negotiations and dialogue to resolve the dispute and disarm, other options will come into play. The U.S. Secretary of State added that, in the view of the U.S., negotiation is the best option, but if North Korean officials are seeking a military option, it will not end well for them. He also stated that Pyongyang must first declare whether it is willing to negotiate. Reuters' report also indicates that the final statement of this meeting emphasized the need for all countries in the world to fully implement the UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Tillerson also emphasized the binding nature of these sanctions for China and Russia despite their absence from the Vancouver meeting, as well as international cooperation to prevent the breaking of sanctions by some commercial ships. China and Russia are accused of not fully complying with international resolutions in this regard; however, both countries have consistently denied this. The U.S. Secretary of State added that North Korea 'must understand that any new violation' will have new consequences for the country. In response to this meeting and its final resolution, Lu Kang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, accused the U.S. and Canada of having a 'Cold War mentality' and added that this type of division in the global community eliminates the opportunity for a peaceful resolution of the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. According to him, only through serious dialogue and considering the legitimate concerns of all parties involved can a peaceful and sustainable solution be achieved. The Associated Press also reported that China, as North Korea's most important military and economic ally, was not invited to this meeting. The participating countries in this meeting also emphasized support for new dialogues between the two Koreas and deemed diplomatic activities to resolve the crisis 'possible and necessary.' However, Taro Kono, Japan's Foreign Minister, also stated in Vancouver that the world should not be overly optimistic about North Korea's actions in negotiating with South Korea. He considered North Korea's willingness to negotiate with South Korea as indicative of the impact of international sanctions against Pyongyang and added that these sanctions should not be lifted.