UN may extend sanctions against North Korea by late this week - source

UNITED NATIONS, February 25. /TASS/. UN Security Council may adopt a resolution drafted by the United States and China on extending sanctions against North Korea by the end of this week, a source in the organization’s headquarters told TASS. Delegations of the two countries have agreed on the document and it will be distributed among the UNSC members soon. "The vote is expected within several days, possibly, already this weekend," the source said adding that the resolution is likely to be passed unanimously. The US and China have been holding talks for several weeks on the text of the future resolution to respond to North Korea’s nuclear test in January and satellite launch earlier this month. The Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday that Washington and Beijing have agreed to include in the new sanctions package against Pyongyang a ban on supplies of aviation fuel used by North Korea’s Air Force. The US side insisted on a full ban of oil supplies to the country but China refused to back such a harsh measure saying that it harms the civilian population of North Korea, according to the news agency. On February 7, North Korea announced a successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite into space. A month earlier, on January 6, Pyongyang carried out an underground nuclear test sparking international fury. North Korea previously conducted three nuclear tests: in 2006, in 2009 and in 2013. Following these tests, the United Nations Security Council imposed various sanctions on Pyongyang. Resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087 and 2094 ban North Korea from any activity linked to nuclear technologies and also developing ballistic missiles. The UN Security Council said it would adopt a new resolution toughening sanctions against Pyongyang. Read more