Russia, China block US bid for North Korea sanctions

Russia and China have blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official.

The US Treasury last week asked a UN sanctions committee to impose an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade restrictions on financial transactions. It also targeted the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean entities.

Russia rejected the allegations against Russia's Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank, saying there was not "sufficient information".

"We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information," said the Russian mission to the United Nations.

It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to the US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea.

Moscow and Beijing have called on the UN to consider easing sanctions on North Korea in response to its opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests.

PressTV-Russia urges removal of North Korea sanctions

Russia’s Foreign Ministry calls for a swift removal of all unilateral sanctions against North Korea.

However, Washington insists on maintaining "maximum pressure" on North Korea, emphasizing on "denuclearization first".

Pyongyang has urged Washington to take reciprocal measures for its goodwill gestures, including officially declaring an end to the Korean War and removing sanctions.

North Korea slams US insistence on sanctions 

North Korea on Thursday denounced US calls for enforcing international sanctions and said progress on denuclearization promises could not be expected if Washington followed an "outdated acting script".

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said Pyongyang's goodwill gestures included stopping nuclear and missile tests, dismantling a nuclear test ground and returning the remains of some US soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Yet Washington "responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure" the Foreign Ministry said.

"As long as the US denies even the basic decorum for its dialog partner and clings to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress," the ministry added.

The North Korean statement followed comments this week by top American diplomats stressing the need for Pyongyang to take additional steps toward denuclearization.

Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said this week that Pyongyang had not taken the necessary steps to denuclearize while US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Washington was "not willing to wait for too long."

PressTV-Bolton: North Korea failing to denuclearize

Trump's national security adviser says the US does not feel North Korea is taking necessary steps to ends its nuclear weapons program.

Bolton, who spoke on Tuesday, said US President Donald Trump was ready to meet again with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un any time.

The two leaders held a historic meeting in June to discuss ways to resolve a persisting crisis in the Korean Peninsula over the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

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