The United States and China are expected to pass the most
stringent set of North Korea sanctions
at the United Nations Security Council, but Beijing could be taking its own
measures against reclusive Pyongyang.
After weeks of
negotiations, the two sides have reached an agreement on a draft resolution
that could penalize North Korea, a Security Council diplomat told CNN.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power is expected to present
the draft sanctions Thursday, according to Kurtis Kooper of the U.S. mission to
the U.N.
China has shown commitment
to sanctions since the North launched an "earth observation
satellite" into space in early February but has said dialogue with the
North and regional stability is a priority.
But after a recent meeting
between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry,
turned a corner on the sanctions issue, and the two sides agreed a tougher
resolution is necessary.
"We hope and believe
this resolution will curb the further development of nuclear missiles" in
North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. "China
is willing to work with relevant parties to promote denuclearization of the
peninsula."
Beijing may be working
independently toward stricter regulations against the North.
Pyongyang depends heavily
on China's hubs for trade, but on Thursday South Korean television network SBS
reported North Korean ships have been banned from docking at ports in Dandong,
China's border city that faces the North.
Dandong is a major gateway
for North Korean iron ore and anthracite coal, but Pyongyang's vessels are no
longer allowed to dock and transfer goods to China.
An unidentified Dandong
port worker told SBS ships typically brought in 3,000 tons of raw materials,
but a new state ordinance forbids North Korea shipments for the next two years.