[Bloomberg] The United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions aimed at punishing North Korea for its latest missile and nuclear tests after the U.S. dropped key demands in order to win support from Russia and China.The 15-member Security Council passed the resolution unanimously Monday following a week of talks that began when Kim Jong Un's regime tested its most powerful nuclear bomb. The resolution seeks to cut imports of refined petroleum products to 2 million barrels a year,
[two years ago, NKor imported about 4 million barrels - probably the Nkor military uses about at least 1 million barrels a year]
ban textile exports and give countries the ability to freeze assets of cargo ships whose operators don't agree to inspections on the high seas.
"We are acting in response to a dangerous new development," U.S. envoy Nikki Haley told the Security Council after the vote. "These are the strongest measures ever imposed on North Korea," she said, adding that the U.S. remains willing to act alone to stop Kim’s nuclear program if necessary.
While the U.S. can claim a victory in persuading Russia and China -- which hold veto power on the Security Council -- to agree to the restrictions, the result is less than Haley had sought when she pushed for a ban on oil and a freeze on Kim assets abroad...