US opposes lifting key sanctions against North Korea

United States has said that it opposes a draft resolution proposed by China and Russia that would terminate UN sanctions on key North Korean exports.

The US called the measure premature at a time when Pyongyang is taking provocative actions and is refusing to meet with US officials to discuss denuclearisation.

The US State Department said, President Donald Trump remains committed to making progress toward commitments he made with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their First Summit in Singapore in June 2018.

 The draft resolution circulated to UN Security Council members would terminate sanctions on North Korean exports including



textiles, seafood and statues with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population. It would also lift a ban on North Koreans working overseas and terminate a decision to repatriate all those earning income abroad by December 22.

China and Russia made these and other proposals 16 days before Kim's end-of-December deadline for the United States to come up with new proposals to revive nuclear diplomacy.

Negotiations faltered after the US rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North's nuclear capabilities at Kim's second summit with Trump last February.