UN Mulls New N Korea Sanctions, Vote Could Happen Friday - Reports

A US-drafted UN Security Council resolution is aimed at prohibiting nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum product exports to North Korea and the repatriation of North Koreans working abroad, Reuters reported on December, 21.

The draft resolution was circulated to the 15-member council on Thursday and could be voted on as early as Friday, diplomats said.

Still, it is not clear how China would vote, traditionally a draft resolution on North Korea is not given to the full council until it has been agreed by Beijing and Washington.

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However, earlier today it was reported that three sources, including two former US officials and a figure in the Trump administration, confirmed to The Telegraph that military options of the North Korea's crisis resolution were being considered in the White House.

Previuosly, on December, 15 US State Secretary Rex Tillerson attended a UN Security Council ministerial meeting, where he reiterated calls on all member states to work together and maintain maximum pressure on Pyongyang to bring its nuclear and ballistic missile programs to an end.

Since the beginning of the year, North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests. On November 28, Pyongyang tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) yet, known as the Hwasong-15, capable of reaching any target within the mainland United States. In December, in response to the DPRK’s missile tests, South Korea and the United States launched large-scale military exercises. The UN has imposed sanctions against the DPRK several times already, with Pyongyang showing no signs of curbing their nuclear weapons program.