North Korea is determined to ignore sanctions imposed on it by the global community and pursue its nuclear and missile ambitions. This is a worry for china which has business dealings with the North and Beijing now plans to enforce the latest round of sanctions and restrict the export of oil to Pyongyang. Such an action would isolate the country from the global economy.
The UN sanction calls for a comprehensive and immediate ban on export of natural gas and textile to North Korea with a limit on the annual petroleum exports restricted to 2 million barrels beginning on Jan.
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China could make a difference
Los Angeles Times reports that China has been a close ally of North Korea for a long time and has regular trade dealings but the repeated nuclear and missile tests that the North carries out has become a matter of concern. According to the U.N. sanctions, Beijing already restricted the export of coal, iron ore, and seafood to Pyongyang.
In April there was thinking in the Chinese administration to curb oil exports to North Korea because of its provocative behavior. That action is now on the cards because the sixth and biggest-ever nuclear test of September was a sort of defiance to the world.
North Korea must be controlled
President Donald Trump has ordered a new round of sanctions that will target any organization or individual who engages in business with North Korea because it is a grave threat to peace and security in the world.
These measures aim to slow down Pyongyang’s nuclear program and hamper its ability to attack the United States.
There is no letup in the war of words between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un, and the situation can spiral out of control any moment. Both the leaders are aware of the consequences of a nuclear confrontation which they must avoid.
The United States has positioned its warships in the Korean peninsula, and South Korea is armed with the THAAD missile defense system. These will act as deterrents and, if China restricts the export of oil to North Korea, it will increase pressure on the regime.
North Korea's foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho has indicated possibilities of intensifying the responses.
One of its options could be to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific. Its timing would depend on Kim Jong-Un as revealed by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. He has identified some probable targets, and the authorities have prepared action plans to ensure the safety of their people. The leaders involved must work together to defuse the tension and not allow the situation to deteriorate.
