Putin does not agree with Trump’s threats against North Korea, and says such vitriol will add to tensions in the region [PPIO]
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree this week to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea.
In line with the UNSC resolutions, Putin ordered that increased restrictions be applied to North Korea in the trade, financial, and scientific sectors even though Russia has no existing economic ties to the country.
The UNSC passed Resolution 2371 on August 5 in response to Pyongyang testing two ballistic missiles.
A month later, Resolution 2375 was passed by the Council in response to North Korea’s nuclear test. Analysts say that 2375 is the most punitive and restrictive measure taken by the UNSC against North Korea to date.
Both resolutions restrict coal, iron and iron ore, seafood, lead and lead ore, and banning textile exports from North Korea while applying a cap on refined petroleum product imports at two million barrels per year, and freezing the amount of crude oil imports.
The resolutions also target the freezing of assets of North Korean officials and individuals.
But four days later, North Korea conducted another ballistic missile test, which was condemned by the Council.
Russia called the test a provocation and said it would exacerbate tensions in an already edgy Pacific region.
Putin has been vocal about North Korea’s defiance of the UNSC and its persistent missile tests but has also urged calm in dealing with the crisis, particularly as the war of words increases between Pyongyang and Washington.
Last month, US President Donald Trump said the US could destroy North Korea.
Putin said the “belligerent rhetoric” is dangerous.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
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