U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Sunday that she is ready to take action and not just hold more talks following North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch.
Haley released a statement denying that the U.S. was seeking to form an emergency session at the U.N. She said that it would be useless and even counterproductive to further sanction the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without action.
"There is no point in having an emergency session if it produces nothing of consequence," she said. "North Korea is already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they violate with impunity and that are not complied with by all U.N. Member States."
"An additional security council resolution that does not significantly increase the international pressure on North Korea is of no value," Haley said. "In fact, it is worse than nothing, because it sends the message to the North Korean dictator that the international community is unwilling to seriously challenge him."
She directly addressed China, the regime's closest ally, and said that Beijing must intervene. China has insisted that it is not responsible for North Korea, even as the U.S. has accused the Chinese leadership of propping up Pyongyang.
"China must decide whether it is finally willing to take this vital step. The time for talk is over," Haley said. "The danger the North Korean regime poses to international peace is now clear to all."
President Donald Trump also focused his Twitter fire on China. He said on Saturday that China does nothing on North Korea despite having "easy" options to "solve this problem."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891440474132795392
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209
China hit back on Monday after Trump's tweets. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement sent to Reuters, said the international community needs to work together to address the North Korean nuclear issue and that China is not responsible for Pyongyang's aggression.
South Korea announced Saturday that it will begin talking with the Trump administration about expanding the country's nuclear capabilities. The Chinese have opposed any actions that would put Seoul in control of nuclear weapons.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also told reporters that the Trump administration promised to "take all necessary measures to protect" Japan.
North Korea launched its latest test missile into Japanese waters on Friday.