UN Security Council Threatens North Korea: Possibility of New Sanctions

The UN Security Council, currently chaired by the United States, strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile test on Thursday, April 20. The members of the council unanimously warned Pyongyang that its "severely destabilizing behavior" could lead to new sanctions. According to a statement from the council, the response to the North Korean missile "crisis" could include "significant measures such as new sanctions." Nikki Haley, the U.S. permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that "none of the council members want North Korea to conduct new missile tests or launches." The French news agency reported that the U.S. statement received unanimous approval after a Russian phrase about the need for a peaceful solution "through dialogue and discussion" was included in the text. Earlier, on Monday, April 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that Washington would not act "unilaterally" regarding North Korea. According to the Associated Press, Lavrov stated that if recent remarks by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence indicated a "unilateral" approach against North Korea, it would be "a very dangerous path." Just hours before Lavrov's comments, Pence warned that the "strategic patience" of the United States regarding North Korea had "come to an end." The day before the Security Council's threatening statement, Pence had mentioned the tense relations between his country and North Korea, stating that the United States would always seek peace but would respond to any attack "with a crushing response." In response to North Korea's actions, the United States has also prepared a ministerial-level meeting for the following week, to be chaired by Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State. According to the French news agency, no resolution is expected to be adopted at the meeting on April 28, but Western countries are anticipated to increase pressure on China to control North Korea. China is considered the most important and largest supporter of North Korea in the region and the world. In addition to six sets of UN sanctions against North Korea, the U.S. Treasury Department also unilaterally announced on Friday, April 1, that it had sanctioned a North Korean company and eleven of its nationals due to their connections to the country's weapons, banking, and foreign trade programs.