Sanctions on NK

[Anchor Lead]

South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-wha said that the U.N. Security Council is reviewing the ways to stop supplying crude oil to North Korea following the regime's sixth nuclear test. She added that China is open to imposing additional sanctions against North Korea, suggesting that Beijing may be willing to take part in tougher sanctions if an all-out oil ban is not among the options.

[Pkg]

South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-wha showed up at the National Assembly to say that the United Nations Security Council is seriously discussing the option of halting crude oil supplies to North Korea.

[Soundbite] Kang Kyung-wha(Foreign Affairs Minister) : "Crude oil is one of the key issues being discussed at the UN Security Council."

However, she added that the Security Council has not yet decided on the extent of the oil ban to be included in the North Korea resolution. She also said that she got the impression that China may be willing to impose additional sanctions of considerable levels on North Korea. China has been the main supplier of crude oil to the North.

[Soundbite] Kang Kyung-wha(Foreign Affairs Minister) : "When I talked with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the phone, I got the impression that China is open-minded about the Security Council discussing additional sanctions."

Nonetheless, she indicated that arranging a call between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has not been easy.

[Soundbite] Park Byeong-seug(Member, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee) : "There were no calls with the Chinese president, who can exercise actual influence on North Korea."

[Soundbite] Kang Kyung-wha(Foreign Affairs Minister) : "It's a bit difficult to schedule a call with President Xi Jinping, but we'll keep trying."

As for the redeployment of strategic nuclear weapons, Minister Kang said the government hasn't reviewed it yet and South Korea is maintaining its policies within the boundaries of the nonproliferation framework. She commented that the current situation is indeed very serious, but not a state of emergency.