Russia: Sanctions must not "strangle" North Korea's economy

According to Sputnik, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said that a political strategy is needed to address North Korea's nuclear program, as sanctions are not enough, and they should not be used to "strangle" North Korea's economy.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya. (Source: Sputnik/ VNA)

“It is not possible to solve the North Korean problem solely through sanctions and pressure,” Mr. Nebenzya said. “This resolution must be part of a political strategy, which has not yet been drafted… Sanctions must not be used to strangle the North Korean economy or deliberately aggravate the humanitarian situation. This must apply in particular to illegal unilateral restrictions that attack the civilian sector and are not related to the military nuclear program.”

Earlier the same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea in connection with Pyongyang's two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July.

These sanctions could slash a third of North Korea's exports, which currently stand at $3 billion a year.

The resolution also added nine North Korean individuals and four entities to the sanctions list, including a key bank, subjecting them to a global asset freeze and travel ban.

» The United Nations imposes new sanctions on North Korea

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