UN Security Council to vote Friday on new DPRK sanctions

World
Europe

The United Nations Security Council on Friday is due to vote on a US-drafted resolution that seeks to toughen sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by cutting oil supplies vital for Pyongyang's military programs, said diplomats.

The draft, seen by Reuters on Thursday, seeks to ban nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum product exports to the DPRK by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year and demand the repatriation of the DPRK people working abroad within 12 months.

A total of 19 DPRK officials working in banking would be added to the UN sanctions blacklist along with the country's ministry of the people's armed forces, which manages logistics for the army.

The DPRK has carried out its sixth nuclear test and series of missile launches since last year, in defiance of UN resolutions.

The United Nations Security Council meets to discuss the DPRK's nuclear ambitions in New York City, US, December 15, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

If the UN Security Council adopts the draft, it would be the 10th resolution imposing sanctions against the DPRK.

A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. Traditionally a draft on the DPRK is not given to all members until agreed by Beijing and Washington.

The US has led the drive at the Security Council to tighten sanctions to push the DPRK to the negotiating table.

Last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the council that the "pressure campaign must and will continue until denuclearization is achieved" as he backtracked from his offer to hold unconditional talks with Pyongyang.

UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman visited Pyongyang earlier this month – the first senior UN official to do so since 2011 – and said the DPRK officials did not commit to talks, but he believes he left “the door ajar.”

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters