China Calls for Full Implementation of UN Sanctions Against North Korea

China's representative to the United Nations emphasized the need to reduce tensions with North Korea while calling for the full implementation of UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang. According to Reuters, Liu Jieyi stated after a Security Council meeting, in response to a question about negotiations with the U.S. for new sanctions against North Korea, that it is up to the Security Council to decide what to do in the current situation. He added that China will continue to cooperate with other Security Council members on this issue. North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests in recent months, ignoring Security Council resolutions. Reuters reports that the U.S. and China began negotiations to intensify sanctions against North Korea a month ago. However, last week, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley mentioned that Beijing has remained silent on this matter. The report states that for the approval of any sanctions resolution against North Korea, the U.S. and China would negotiate first without the other 13 Security Council members, and then the draft resolution would be presented to the other members. Meanwhile, North Korea tested another medium-range ballistic missile on Sunday. In response, Security Council members condemned this missile test in a statement yesterday. On Tuesday, Security Council members held a closed meeting to discuss the recent missile test by North Korea. After this meeting, the Chinese representative stated that the first and foremost action is the full implementation of Security Council resolutions against North Korea. He also mentioned that efforts should be made to reduce tensions to facilitate dialogue for nuclear disarmament. Liu Jieyi emphasized that it is unclear why dialogue cannot occur under the current circumstances. Representatives from France and the UK supported the intensification of sanctions against Pyongyang after the Security Council meeting on Tuesday. Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is ready to meet with North Korea's leader if conditions are appropriate. The U.S. State Department also stated that Washington remains ready for credible talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but conditions must change first, and North Korea must abandon its nuclear weapons program.