South Korea's foreign minister on Saturday called for China's "constructive" role in thoroughly implementing new UN sanctions on North Korea amid widespread concern about their effectiveness.

"It is crucial for member countries including China to play a constructive role in implementing important elements of the resolutions without leaving a loophole," Yun Byung-se told Yonhap News Agency at the Incheon International Airport.

He was leaving for Vienna to attend the "International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions" to be held next week.

The South Korean government "did its best" in cooperation with allies and other partner countries in terms of a punishment against Pyongyang for its two nuclear tests this year, said the minister.

But what's more important is how to implement the sanctions thoroughly and perfectly, he added.

Last Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted a new set of tough sanctions on Pyongyang in response to the communist nation's nuclear test two months earlier.

Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were quick in unveiling their own punitive measures against individuals and entities aimed at putting a tighter grip on major sources of hard currency for Pyongyang.

With the latest measures taken by the UN and the countries, the minister said a system, which stronger than any previous UN sanctions, has been effectively created to press North Korea "in every possible direction."

Mentioning the sanctions on coal and labor exports, he said while the sanctions themselves are meaningful, it is also a stern warning against "parties involved."

Although he didn't elaborate, he apparently alluded to individuals and companies of a third country that are suspected of being deeply linked to North Korea's development of nuclear and missile technologies.

He also stressed the need for the incoming Donald Trump administration to maintain the tough sanctions on the North.

"The U.S. administration in a transition period should take over and implement the strong sanctions," he said. "Having said that, it is very meaningful that the Obama administration made clear North Korea's nuclear problem should be the first priority for president-elect Trump's foreign policy agenda." 



(Yonhap)