The United States Calls for 'Direct Action' from Russia and China Against North Korea

The United States has urged the governments of Russia and China to take 'direct action' to prevent North Korea's missile and nuclear activities. China has reiterated its position on 'suspending exercises in exchange for suspending tests.' Just four days after a new round of UN sanctions, Pyongyang tested a missile that passed over Japan for the second time in recent weeks. Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated, 'China is the largest oil supplier to North Korea. Russia is the largest labor market for North Korean forced laborers.' The reference to 'forced laborers' pertains to North Korean workers who are reportedly sent abroad under duress and are a significant source of income for the Pyongyang government. A 2015 UN report indicated that this forced labor generates approximately $2.3 billion in foreign currency for North Korea's government. Tillerson added that Moscow and Beijing 'must demonstrate their intolerance for these irresponsible missile tests by taking direct actions themselves.' Chinese state media reported the remarks of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who called for maintaining calm and finding a peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The spokesperson emphasized the need to 'seriously consider dual suspensions,' referring to the proposal to suspend U.S.-South Korean exercises in exchange for suspending North Korea's missile and nuclear tests. This proposal had also been raised during Barack Obama's presidency but was rejected by Washington at that time. North Korea conducted its latest missile test on September 15, which the U.S. Pacific Command described as a medium- to long-range missile, traveling approximately 3,700 kilometers, passing over Japan, prompting some Japanese citizens to seek shelter, and ultimately landing in the Pacific Ocean. This distance is potentially sufficient to reach locations like Guam, which North Korea had previously threatened to target. The U.S. Department of Defense emphasized that North America or Guam is not under threat. Guam is one of the most important U.S. bases in the Pacific. Tillerson's statement comes as the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting regarding the recent test on Friday, New York time. The latest two sanctions from the Security Council were approved on September 20. Following that, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, stated that this action was merely a small step and 'not comparable to what will ultimately happen.' North Korea also reacted to these sanctions, with Pyongyang stating on Wednesday that it would sink Japan and turn the U.S. into 'darkness and ashes.'