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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has rolled out fresh sanctions against North Korea-linked shipping assets, hailing the package as the “heaviest sanctions ever” levied on the Pyongyang regime.
Trump used a speech to conservatives just outside Washington to step up his campaign of “maximum pressure” designed to force North Korea to roll back its weapons programs.
“We imposed today the heaviest sanctions ever imposed on a country before,” Trump claimed at the end of a lengthy campaign-style address yesterday.
In light of past US embargoes, that is likely an overstatement, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin confirmed the sanctions covered “virtually all the ships” North Korea is “using at this moment in time.”
Speaking to reporters in Pyeongchang Saturday on a visit to the Winter Olympics, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: “Hopefully we’ll see a change on the part of the North Koreans to start to denuclearise the peninsula, that’s what our focus is.”
She added: “I can tell you the president won’t make the mistakes the previous administration has and be soft or weak.”
Trump’s administration is locked in a nuclear standoff with Pyongyang, which is trying to develop missiles that could deliver an atomic weapon to major US cities.
The latest sanctions are designed to put the squeeze on North Korea’s already precarious economy and fuel supply.
In his speech Trump had been expected to provide details of measures that target “56 vessels, shipping companies, and trade businesses,” but skipped that part of his prepared remarks.
“Frankly hopefully something positive can happen,” he said instead.
During a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump said sanctions were only the first step.
“If the sanctions don’t work, we’ll have to go to phase two. Phase two may be a very rough thing,” he said, without elaborating.
Mnuchin said there were signs the punitive measures were starting to have an impact, but did not elaborate.
The North Korean military and broader economy depend heavily on imports of coal and oil from China and Russia.
China, Pyongyang’s only major ally, has steadfastly rebuffed Washington’s calls for a full oil embargo — fearing the chaotic collapse of the Pyongyang regime — but has accepted caps agreed at the United Nations.
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Rockin up to the Oscars in an RUC landrover, gwan the lads!
@Anthony Curran: Anything to take away from the actual content.
@Ollie McGlinchey: Ok boomer.
@John P Doe: Ye ragin’? Lol
@John P Doe: dick
They’re a bit backwards focused for my taste, but nice to see the Irish language. All the best.
@Jimmy The Mink: are we backward for wanting the Brits to go home???
@sean weir:
I think that you in particular are backwards, yes.
These people you refer to as “the Brits” have lived there for hundreds of years and love it and consider it to be home as much as you do.
And your want to “get them out” is backwards as there will never be a United Ireland if it is not inclusive and for all. Even Sinn Fein came to understand this (eventually) and it is chamiponed in the green and orange stripes of the Irish flag, if only those who wave it so frantically would take a moment to look at it.
So yes, you a backward. A (dim) dinosaur.
When there is a United Ireland it will be because of people like me, not you.
You’re just a remnant, an obstacle.
@Pad: you could use that logic to justify Israel kicking out the Palestinians Pad.
@Pad: Ah Pad, it’s not if you go back far enough which is what you’re doing in N Ireland.
Anyway, have a nice long weekend.
@sean weir: yes. Backwards as backwards can be.
@Jimmy The Mink: are you retarted?
The 6 countries have been policed by the British army since 1968.
Pray tell me who are these soldiers that have lived there for 100,s of years.
If you are talking about unionists and you think that they are the Brits in”brits out” it shows you don’t have a clue about what is happening in you own country
@John P Doe: Brits out is not about unionists,it’s about the British government and army ,the fact that You don’t know that is astonishing to me.
Another embarrassment for Ireland. Its like sending a rapping Bin Laden group
@Pat Hazzard: it’s amazing with you southern lads ,we are to Irish for the Brits but not Irish enough for the dubs,
In only 100 years you have convinced yourselves that we don’t exist
@Pat Hazzard: Stephen you were such an embarrassment to FF they kicked you out.
@Pat Hazzard:
‘Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was a Saudi Arabian-born Islamist dissident and militant leader who was the founder and first general emir of al-Qaeda from 1988 until his death in 2011′
Kneecap are a trio of p*ss taking rascals who have never harmed anyone. Who have friends in the PUL community who understand that there’s some humour to be found in all the tragedy and identity politics. They haven’t made a single threat made against any state. No holy wars declared either.
I don’t think it’s like ‘sending a rapping Bin Laden group’ at all!
@Pat Hazzard: ah paddy lad take off your ffg blueshirt for a minute someone might give you a hug
@John P Doe: “you lot”
You really are some west Brit P.O.S
Shame the music and rapping is awful.
@Ollie McGlinchey: it’s not though. Get your brits out is a banger. The song with Grian Chatten is very good too.
@Ollie McGlinchey: Vanilla Ice and Will Smith more your thing Ollie?
@Setanta O’Toole: more like a clanger
On vacation in New York. Seen a poster of them in Manhattan. Had to take a second look just to be sure. Put a smile on face.
Pat Hazzard is a C L O W N
@Darragh Mcnamara: it’s one of Stephen Kearons multiple personalities
@Michale Kane: the same Stephen Kearon who is a great admirer of Thatcher..no surprise there.
@anthonyjames. byrne.: and the black an tans. Imagine how bad you have to be to get kicked out of FF.
Not everything is for everyone.
@Jack Hayes: Like colonialism
One can imagine the hysterical condemnation if there was a punkish rapping band going around with union jack Balaclavas and purporting to represent the Shankill and the unionist community.
@tony mc g: They have their marching and burning Tony, even have a special month dedicated to it !
@Michale Kane: and what does the world think of that Michaela?
Oscars have gone downhill then
@Hector turtlehead: lol. …. that’s what done it for ya eh!
Ní ceapaim
Why not just send the Wolfe Tones to sing Up The Ra and save us any futher embarrassment?
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