US revises draft on sanctions against DPRK

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The US on Sunday submitted a revised draft to the UN Security Council, which is set to vote on Monday afternoon local time for new sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its latest nuclear test.

The revision is seen as an attempt to win support from China and Russia, two of the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council.

The US originally proposed to subject the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to a travel ban and asset freeze, together with four other DPRK officials while the new draft only blacklists one of those officials, reduces sanctions on oil and eggs but a ban on textile exports still stand, according to Reuters.

The UN Security Council during an emergency meeting over DPRK's latest nuclear test, on September 4, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. /AFP Photo‍

In order to pass, a resolution needs nine of the 15 Security Council members to vote in favor and no vetoes by any of the five permanent members – the US, China, Russia, Britain and France.

The DPRK has been condemned globally for conducting its sixth nuclear test on September 3, which it claimed was a hydrogen bomb test. But there is some relief when the DPRK did not conduct a further missile test this weekend on the occasion of its founding anniversary.

DPRK threatens to let US pay ‘due price’

Pyongyang has denounced the US for leading the international to impose sanctions against its country, saying it would not accept any punishment over its nuclear and missile program, which it says is vital to deal with the threat from the US.

If the US does "rig up the illegal and unlawful 'resolution' on harsher sanctions, the DPRK shall make absolutely sure that the US pays due price," its foreign ministry said, in a statement published by the official KCNA news agency.

"The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the US the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history," the ministry said. "The world will witness how the DPRK tames the US gangsters by taking (a) series of action tougher than they have ever envisaged."

China: UNSC members must speak in one voice

China on Monday urged the UN Security Council members to speak in one voice on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the wake of DPRK's latest nuclear test.

At a daily press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Beijing wishes the UN Security Council members to remain united and take a common stand on the matter. Geng said that the Security Council's actions must contribute to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner while maintaining stability in the region.

S. Korea says DPRK on ‘reckless path’

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Monday the DPRK is on a “reckless path” with its continued nuclear and missiles.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, September 11, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"North Korea has taken a reckless path. The price that it will pay for the continuing provocations while ignoring the will of the peaceful international community will be instability and economic problems," Kang told a news conference.

South Korea President Moon Jae-in told former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday that he intended to use his attendance to make progress in the nuclear standoff and other matters in the upcoming meeting of the UN General Assembly.

Ban said in response that he hoped Moon will make a lot of achievements during the session and pledged to use his experience as UN chief to provide support for Moon.