"It is not possible to settle the Korean issue through sanctions and pressure… on Pyongyang alone. The resolution must be a part of a political strategy, which is yet to be crafted… sanctions must not be used for economic asphyxiation of the DPRK nor to deliberately worsen the humanitarian situation. This specially applies to illegal unilateral restrictions, which strike civilians sectors, which are unrelated to the military nuclear program," Nebenzya said.
Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted the resolution tightening the sanctions imposed on North Korea. The document implies prohibition of imports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead and seafood from the Asian nation by the UN member states.
"Practice shows the destructivity of unilateral measures and the approach when universal means of settling these issues instead of diplomatic tools when the sanctions stick is used," the ambassador added.
On July 28, North Korea conducted the second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile in less than a month. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the test was successful with the missile having reached the altitude of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles) and traveled 998 kilometers for about 47 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan.
