Senior diplomat says resource of sanctions pressure on North Korea used up

ASTANA, August 29. /TASS/. The resource of sanctions pressure on North Korea in response to conducting missile and nuclear tests in that country has been exhausted, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on Tuesday. "Judging by what our counterparts from the US and other Western countries do in similar situations, of course, new steps towards toughening sanctions can be expected. However, this will not solve the problem," he stressed. "It is clear to everyone that the resource of sanctions pressure on North Korea has been exhausted," he said. "From our point of view, it is no longer possible to make decisions at the [UN] Security Council that would not contain an indication that there can be no military solution to the problem, only a political one, the provisions that would rule out additional unilateral sanctions in addition to those passed by the UN Security Council," Ryabkov stressed. On August 5, the UN Security Council passed a resolution specifying tougher sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile program. The document provides for a ban on exports from North Korea, in particular, coal, iron, lead and seafood. The countries that have signed such contracts with Pyongyang are to end imports of purchased mineral resources and goods within 30 days since the passing of the document. The resolution also envisages a ban on establishing new joint ventures with North Korea and additional investment in the existing ones. In accordance with this document, the countries employing North Korean workers are prohibited to increase their number. The resolution also obliges countries not to allow vessels caught out by the United Nations Security Council’s special committee violating the sanctions regime in their ports, the only exception being "paramount necessity." Read more