News / Foreign Policy

Theresa May threatens more sanctions against North Korea

Wednesday, 30 August 2017 9:41 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 30 August 2017 9:42 AM ]

British Prime Minister Theresa May (File photo)

British Prime Minister Theresa May has threatened to impose more sanctions on North Korea and asked China do more to stop North Korea’s nuclear missile launches.

“China has a key role to play here in terms of the pressure they can bring on North Korea,” May said Tuesday after Pyongyang sent a missile cruising over the north of Japan which she will pay a visit to soon.

Answering to reporters’ questions about whether the UK will resort to military actions against Pyongyang, May refused to rule out the option.

“I think what I have made clear is what the UK is looking at and what the UK doing and that is looking at pressure on North Korea, which is discussions about further sanctions and it's about the sort of change that China can bring. I think they are a key player in this.”

“We would encourage China to do everything it can to bring pressure on North Korea to stop this,” she added.

May asserted that the international community should try to stop Pyongyang using intense economic and diplomatic pressure.

Britain “will be working with our international partners, as we have done previously, but we will be re-doubling our efforts with our international partners to put pressure on North Korea to stop these illegal activities,” the prime minister said.

This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 26, 2017 shows rockets being launched by Korean People's Army (KPA) personnel during a target strike exercise at an undisclosed location in North Korea. (AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS)

North Korea on Tuesday fired a Hwasong-12 missile — reportedly capable of carrying a nuclear payload — that traveled nearly 2,700 kilometers into the Pacific and triggered alert warnings as it flew over northern Japan.

The launch sparked angry reactions from Japan and the United States, as well as calls for restraint by other countries.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the launch, saying it deliberately undermined peace and stability in the region.

US President Donald Trump also said “all options” are on the table regarding North Korea, ratcheting up his war of words against the Asian nation.

Pyongyang has tested a barrage of missiles over the past years, but it is the first time it launches what is believed to be a ballistic missile over Japan.

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