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North Korea faces tighter sanctions under Trump strategy
The US is to tighten sanctions on North Korea and step up diplomatic moves aimed at pressuring the country to end its nuclear and missile programmes
North Korea released a photo of Kim Jong-un saluting troops
The Trump administration said on Wednesday it aimed to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, and remained open to negotiations to bring that about.
US President Donald Trump's strategy was announced after a special briefing for all 100 US senators.
The US stance appeared to signal a willingness to exhaust non-military avenues despite repeated warnings that "all options are on the table."
The statement from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, defence secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats described North Korea as "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority."
North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump, who has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile.
"The President’s approach aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programmes by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners," the statement said.
"The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies."
Earlier, the top US commander in the Pacific defended the deployment of an advanced missile defence system in South Korea.
Tillerson will chair a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday that is expected to discuss tougher sanctions, which US officials say could include an oil embargo, banning North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese and other foreign banks doing business with Pyongyang.
US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said another means of diplomatic pressure would be for nations to close North Korean missions and to ostracize North Korea in international organizations.
