North Korea says US on path of confrontation as Trump downplays sanctions

dpa (TNS)

GENEVA – The United States is on the path of military confrontation with North Korea, a diplomat from the isolated country said Tuesday, making clear that the new U.S.-drafted U.N. sanctions that passed the Security Council would not defuse the nuclear standoff.

“The sanctions and pressure campaign by the Washington regime to completely obliterate DPRK’s sovereignty and the right to existence is reaching an extremely reckless level,” said Han Tae Song, who represents the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea in Geneva.

Speaking at the U.N. Disarmament Conference, Han reiterated Pyongyang’s warnings that the U.S. would pay a “due price” and would “suffer the greatest pain” for pushing for even tighter sanctions.

“Instead of making the right choice with a rational analysis on (the) overall situation, the Washington regime finally opts for political, economic and military confrontation,” he said.

On Monday, the Security Council passed new punitive measures in response to Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test.

President Donald Trump meanwhile played down the new sanctions as a “very small step” and warned greater action would likely be needed.

“We had a vote yesterday on sanctions. We think it’s just another very small step, not a big deal,” said Trump during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Washington.

Secretary of State “Rex (Tillerson) and I were just discussing – not big,” Trump said, while praising the unanimous Security Council vote.

“I don’t know if it has any impact, but certainly it was nice to get a 15-to-nothing vote. But those sanctions are nothing compared to what ultimately will have to happen.”

Trump gave no details about what he expected to happen but has in the past threatened military action against North Korea if it continues its provocations. Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders did not elaborate further, except to stress that, as always, the U.S. keeps all options on the table.

The sanctions seek to curb key sources of income for Pyongyang, by banning textile exports and money transfers by expatriate North Korean workers. It also limits oil exports to the isolated country.

While Russia and China back these measures, they have been calling for a freeze-for-freeze agreement, which would see the U.S. and South Korea halt military drills in exchange for Pyongyang stopping its nuclear and missile program.

Han stressed that the nuclear program was a form of self-defense against U.S. threats and military maneuvers, and he said Washington would have to end its hostile policy to resolve the crisis.

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(Otti reported from Geneva, Walters from Washington.)

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AP-WF-09-13-17 0036GMT