Seoul – A South Korean official said on Monday in Seoul that U.S., China disagreement has slowed down drawing up a new UN sanction resolution to punish North Korea for its fourth nuclear test. He noted that Washington has presented a draft resolution to Beijing for review, hoping to impose tougher and more extensive sanctions on Pyongyang for its Jan. 6 nuclear test. The official noted on condition of anonymity that “Chinese side, as has been the case in the past, was extremely slow at first, but talks are still under way.
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Samantha Power, U.S Ambassador to the UN, said Washington and Beijing have so far failed to narrow their gap over the details of the resolution. He said Beijing showed an “initial response” to the U.S. draft last week and talks have begun in earnest, but progress has been slow. Beijing’s cooperation was essential in drawing a strong sanctions resolution from the UN Security Council, because it was one of five veto-wielding permanent members, along with the U.S., Russia, France and Great Britain. China, however, has been reluctant to push the North too hard out of concerns for its own security interests. Meanwhile, John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, is scheduled to visit Beijing later this week to step up pressure on China to exercise more leverage over Pyongyang. (Yonhap/NAN)