UNITED NATIONS – Russia and China together gave given a blow to the UnitedStates at the United Nations Security Council.
Both countries have objected to a US proposal to add a Russian bank,Moscow-based North Korean banker and two other entities to a UN SecurityCouncil blacklist, diplomats said.
The list of proposed designations mirrors new sanctions announced by the USTreasury last week. [nL1N1UU0VN]
The United States made the proposal to the 15-member UN Security CouncilNorth Korea sanctions committee, which operates by consensus.
Russia objected to the designations because it said the US proposal was not“adequately substantiated by sufficient information,” diplomats said. Chinagave no reason for its objections.
Russia and China have suggested the Security Council discuss easingsanctions after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim JongUn met for the first time in June and Kim pledged to work towarddenuclearization.
The United States and other council members have said there must be strictenforcement of sanctions until Pyongyang acts.
Last week, Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow-based AgrosoyuzCommercial Bank, North Korean banker Ri Jong Won, China-based DandongZhongsheng Industry & Trade Co Ltd and North Korea-based Korea UngumCorporation.
The US Treasury Department said Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank had conducted “asignificant transaction” for North Korean banker Han Jang Su, who had beenblacklisted by Washington. Han is the Moscow-based chief representative ofForeign Trade Bank (FTB), North Korea’s primary foreign exchange bank.