A draft U. N. resolution against North Korea sponsored by the U. S. would be the strongest yet, but it has little chance of prospering
The United States is pushing for a vote as early as Monday on new sanctions that would impose an energy stranglehold on North Korea by banning sales of oil and natural gas to the reclusive country.
Negotiations were expected to take place this weekend, with China and Russia expressing objections.
According to a draft version of a U. S.-written United Nations resolution, Pyongyang would be prohibited from importing “crude oil, condensate, refined petroleum product and natural gas liquids.”
The draft resolution, which is being circulated at the U. N. Security Council, would also ban Pyongyang from exporting textiles — nipping in the bud one of the fastest growing sectors of the North Korean economy. And it would increase the ability of U. N. member states to interdict ships on the high seas by allowing “nonconsensual inspections” of those designated as violating sanctions.
If approved and enforced, the bans would be crippling for North Korea, as the Trump administration and other governments seek ways to curb the isolated nation’s robust nuclear program.
“It’s not a complete quarantine, but it is getting close,” said Scott Snyder of the Council on Foreign Relations.
But already the draft has run into opposition from China, which is North Korea’s chief trading partner and largest supplier of fuel, and from Russia. China’s ambassador to the U. N., Liu Jieyi, reportedly cut short a trip to Africa to negotiate over the weekend on the resolution.
