US hopes India will do more to pressurize North Korea
The US said it expects India will do more to pressurize the "global threat" North Korea to give up its missile and nuclear weapons programme. US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said this is part of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure campaign" to have all countries impose sanctions on North Korea. Her statement comes after North Korea tested its highest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile.
North Korea launches highest-ever missile that reached 4,500km altitude
On November 29, North Korea test-fired an ICBM which reached an altitude of 4,500km and flew 960km. The missile, the North's highest-ever ICBM test, landed in Japanese waters. US President Donald Trump responded by saying, "We will take care of it." This is the latest in a series of Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests, leading to simmering regional tensions.
Nauert says US is discussing North Korean threats with India
"We have a wonderful relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India," Nauert told reporters. "It (North Korea) is a global problem, a global threat. We hope that India will do more and we'll continue to have those conversations with the government," she added Nauert hoped that China, Pyongyang's biggest trading partner, will use its unique leverage to rein-in North Korea.
US wants to end foreign trade/funding to North Korea
Nauert said UN Security Council, which includes Russia and China, has unanimously passed resolutions to impose greater sanctions on North Korea. She urged countries across the world to work together to choke all sources of foreign income to the North. "We have asked other nations to kick out North Korean guest workers" who bankroll the regime's nuclear weapons programmes.
