The United States said it will push for additional sanctions on North Korea if the country conducts a new nuclear test. China and Russia had vetoed a UN resolution sponsored by the US that would have imposed tougher sanctions on North Korea.
South Korean and Japanese officials have said North Korea can soon conduct its first nuclear test in nearly five years, reported Reuters. The recently vetoed resolution could have prevented launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nukes.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US will absolutely seek new sanctions if North Korea conducted another nuclear test.
North Korea conducted the first nuclear test in 2006 and the Security Council imposed sanctions after the incident. The same has been tightened over the years in a total of 10 resolutions seeking to control the Asian country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs by cutting its sources of revenue.
North Korea, last Wednesday, launched the 17th round of missiles in 2022. This is an escalation of weapons tests. Many experts suspect that it is an effort from leader Kim Jong Un's plans to expand the country's arsenal. This will also put more pressure on rival nations to relieve it from current sanctions.
At the UN Security Council, 13 out of 15 members voted in favour of the resolution. Russia and China's veto marked the first serious division among the five veto-wielding permanent members over a North Korea sanctions resolution.
North Korea has maintained a close relationship with China and is considered to be a close ally. They have a mutual aid and cooperation treaty - the only defense treaty either country has with any other nation. North Korea has an extremely strained relationship with South Korea and restricts visitors from across the border. The country also maintains a hostile relationship with Japan and the US.