(VOVWORLD) - US President Donald Trump urged Chinese President Xi Jinping in a Wednesday phone call to use all available leverage to prevent further North Korean provocations after Pyongyang tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
 US President Donald Trump (Photo: Yonhap) |
He also promised additional sanctions on North Korea. President Xi reiterated China’s consistent policy of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, adhering to international policies of non-nuclear proliferation, while maintaining peace and stability in the region. He said China wants to keep all existing communication channels with the US and the other parties for better cooperation.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Berlin strongly denounces Pyongyang’s missile launch and he will summon the North Korean Ambassador to protest the launch.
On Wednesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed by telephone to ask the UN to accelerate sanctions against North Korea, saying they can’t tolerate any more such provocations from North Korea.
The Russian government also criticized Pyongyang’s latest missile launch, calling on other countries to show restraint.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Wednesday said it had summoned the North Korean Ambassador to protest the launch.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the launch. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called on the UN to increase sanctions by removing Pyongyang’s rights and privileges at the UN and urged countries to cut trade and diplomatic ties with North Korea.