Trump: The Security Council Must Be Ready for New Sanctions Against North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized during a meeting with representatives of UN Security Council member countries on Monday that the Council must prepare to impose new sanctions against North Korea. According to a Reuters report, the U.S. President described the current situation in North Korea as "unacceptable" and stressed that action must be taken to address a problem that has been "ignored" for decades and ultimately requires a solution. Mr. Trump reminded that the Security Council should be ready to impose "additional and stronger sanctions" against North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The U.S. President stated, "Whether we want to talk about it or not, this is a real threat to the world. North Korea is a major global threat and it is a problem we must ultimately solve." Reuters notes that Donald Trump did not specify a timeline for the imposition of new sanctions, while U.S. officials indicate that the Trump administration is considering whether such sanctions should be in response to upcoming missile and nuclear tests by North Korea or should be implemented as soon as the framework is established. The news agency recalls that the Chinese President previously urged all parties to exercise restraint during a phone conversation with Mr. Trump regarding North Korea, while Japan is preparing for joint exercises with the U.S. in Korean waters. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized in an interview with NBC News that the U.S. and the international community continue to apply pressure on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un but are "not seeking to fight him." Ms. Haley also stressed in response to the possibility of considering a "preemptive strike" against North Korea that "we will not take any action unless he gives us a reason to do so." She added, "If we witness an attack on a military base or the use of some kind of intercontinental ballistic missile, we will certainly act, but for now, we only emphasize that missile tests or the use of nuclear missiles and actions of this kind should not continue." Recently, Vice President Mike Pence, during a visit to South Korea, warned North Korean officials that the era of U.S. "strategic patience" regarding the country has ended. Herbert McMaster, the U.S. National Security Advisor, also emphasized that Washington, along with its allies and China, is reviewing various options for an appropriate response to North Korea's recent missile test. He also noted that the options under consideration do not include "military action against Pyongyang." In this context, North Korea threatened to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier, and the Security Council threatened North Korea with the possibility of new sanctions. Pence warned North Korea: "We will respond decisively to attacks." Russia urged the U.S. not to act unilaterally regarding North Korea. The Vice President stated: "The era of strategic patience regarding North Korea is over." The National Security Advisor to Trump stated: "An international consensus has formed regarding North Korea."