US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was joined by his hawkish Japanese counterpart at 20-nation talks in Vancouver in calling for tougher punitive measures against Pyongyang.
VANCOUVER: The United States urged allies to escalate pressure on North Korea over its nuclear missile programme on Tuesday (Jan 16), despite a cautious tone from key US partner South Korea.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was joined by his hawkish Japanese counterpart at 20-nation talks in Vancouver in calling for tougher punitive measures against Pyongyang.
But South Korea, while publicly maintaining faith with US President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign, struck a markedly more optimistic tone, arguing that renewed North-South talks show sanctions are already working.
Key players China and Russia were not invited to the meeting of the powers that united under UN command to fight North Korea in the 1950-1963 war, and denounced the gathering as a Cold War throwback.
Tillerson, hosting the event with Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, called for North Korean ships to be intercepted at sea and for new international measures to be implemented every time Pyongyang tests new weapons.
“First, we all must insist on a full enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions, as this is the letter of the law. We especially urge Russia and China in this matter,” he said.
“Second, we all must work together to improve maritime interdiction operations. We must put an end to illicit ship-to-ship transfers that undermine UN sanctions.
“And, third, there must be new consequences for the regime whenever new aggression occurs.”
He received backing from his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in public opening remarks, but South Korea’s Kang Kyung-Wha sounded a more cautious note and told the 20 senior envoys that sanctions pressure is already making progress.
IS NORTH KOREA ‘BUYING TIME’?
Some observers have welcomed North Korea’s decision to meet with Seoul’s representatives and to send a delegation to the South’s upcoming Winter Olympics as a sign that tensions may be lowered.
But Kono urged the allies not to let their guard down as they seek to force Pyongyang to agree to negotiate its own nuclear disarmament.
