US opposes lifting key sanctions against North Korea

United Nations, December 18

The United States said on Tuesday that it opposed a draft resolution proposed by China and Russia that would terminate UN sanctions on key North Korean exports, calling the measure “premature” at a time when Pyongyang is threatening to conduct “an escalated provocation” and is refusing to meet US officials to discuss denuclearisation.

The US State Department said President Donald Trump “remains committed to making progress towards commitments” he made with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their first summit in Singapore in June 2018 on transforming relations between the two countries, building lasting peace and ensuring complete denuclearisation.

A State Department statement said the US remained committed to diplomacy to make progress towards these goals, but it “cannot do this alone”.

The draft resolution circulated to UN Security Council members on Monday night would terminate sanctions on North Korean exports, including textiles, seafood and statues with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population.

It would also lift a ban on North Koreans working overseas and terminate a decision to repatriate all those earning income abroad by December 22.

China and Russia made these and other proposals 16 days before Kim’s end-of-December deadline for the United States to come up with new proposals to revive nuclear diplomacy.

Negotiations faltered after the US rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North’s nuclear capabilities at Kim’s second summit with Trump last February. AP