THE United Nations Security Council will vote today, at the request of the United States, on a resolution aimed at toughening sanctions on North Korea after it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, diplomats said yesterday.

The United States, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency for May, has scheduled the vote for the late afternoon, two diplomats told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, a senior US official said the resolution would notably look at curbing oil imports, although diplomats say Russia and China could exercise their veto power.

The official noted that Security Council Resolution 2397, adopted unanimously in 2017, called for further consequences in the event of another ICBM launch.

“That was a provision of that resolution. That’s precisely what happened and so we feel it’s now time to take action,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

The official declined to comment on whether Russia and China would veto the text but said: “We think that this resolution will have strong support because this is an issue that’s of profound importance to us, obviously, (and) of profound importance to our allies Japan and South Korea.”

The draft resolution calls for a reduction in the quantity of oil that North Korea can legally import each year for civilian purposes, from 4 million to 3 million barrels.

It would similarly cut imports of refined petroleum from 500,000 to 375,000 barrels.

The resolution would also impose further sanctions on North Korean exports including of clocks, watches and mineral fuels.

The United States and South Korea say that North Korea fired three missiles, including possibly its largest ICBM, hours after President Joe Biden closed a visit to the region.

One UN envoy whose country is on the Security Council, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the “huge threat” posed by North Korea’s actions, and indicated the US decision to push for a quick vote could still backfire.

“A division of the Security Council on this crisis would be bad,” the envoy said, noting the high stakes on the “nuclear proliferation issue.”

“If the draft is rejected, I’m afraid it will just be good news for the young leader of the DPRK,” the ambassador said, adding that such a rift on the council would make it more difficult to “increase the pressure” on Pyongyang. – AFP, May 26, 2022.