South Korea welcomes UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea

News24xx.com -  South Korea has welcomed the UN Security Council's move to impose new sanctions on North Korea. The country's foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that South Korea will continue to strengthen cooperation with the international community.
On Monday, the 15-member council adopted a US-drafted resolution imposing fresh punishing measures against North Korea following its sixth and largest nuclear test on September 3.

"North Korea should accept the strict warning from the international community that continued provocations only deepen the diplomatic isolation and economic pressure," the ministry said.

The council voted 15-0 for a ban on textile exports and restrict shipments of oil products to North Korea.

Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, also welcomed the move, describing it as "a remarkably tough sanctions resolution".

"It is important to put an unprecedented level of pressure on North Korea to make it change its policies," Abe said.

Though the resolution was backed unanimously, the final document was a watered-down version of the original US proposal following pressure from China and Russia.

China has held the position that stronger sanctions would not be helpful in halting North Korea's nuclear programme.

A Chinese state media editorial on Tuesday said the the US should stop isolating North Korea and return to the table for talks.

Since Kim Jong-un's ascendancy in December 2011, North Korea has accelerated its missile development programme.

Tensions over the past month have been escalating over the country's weapons development with threats of nuclear attack exchanged by Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.