AN UNRESOLVED CONFLICT, BATTLE OF THE TWO KOREAS

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has called on the rest of the world to help force North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Speaking to the UN Security Council, he called on China in particular to leverage its trade links as influence.
But the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said the solution did not lie with his country.

Tensions increased lately, with both North and South Korea conducting military exercises.

The US has sent warships and an anti-missile system to reassure the South, where thousands of American soldiers are stationed.

North Korea has made repeated attempts to miniaturise nuclear warheads and fit them on long-range missiles capable of reaching the US.

Mr. Tillerson warned the UN Security Council of “catastrophic consequences” if it did not act, saying it was “likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland”.

 The US would use military force if necessary, he added.

He urged other countries to suspend diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and isolate its financial institutions and, in comments that seemed directed at China, accused Council members of not fully enforcing sanctions against the North.

UN sanctions include a ban on selling North Korea arms, fuel, a host of items that could be used for weapons-making and luxury goods including pearl jewellery and snowmobiles worth $2,000 (£1,540) or more.

Since last year, all cargo entering or leaving North Korea must also be inspected.

But a recent UN study found that fragments from a North Korean missile test included electronics that had been sourced either from or via Chinese enterprises.

Asked on Friday by US broadcaster NPR if the US was prepared to hold direct talks with North Korea, Mr. Tillerson replied: “Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this. But North Korea has to decide they’re ready to talk to us about the right agenda.”

China’s foreign minister warned against military intervention, saying: “The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters.”

“Peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through dialogue and negotiations represents the only right choice that is practical and viable,” he added.
He also repeated a Chinese offer to halt Pyongyang’s military programme in return for a freeze on joint US-South Korea military drills.

The US has rejected the idea in the past, saying the nuclear programme must be halted first.

Earlier on Friday, in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters, US President Donald Trump said he feared a “major, major conflict” if negotiation attempts did not work.