Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikawa urged the UN Security Council to speed up efforts to adopt a new resolution to sanction North Korea for advancing its nuclear development program and said it should be the body’s top priority, The Japan Times reported.

"Japan believes that adopting a new resolution with further significant measures needs to be the top and urgent priority of this council," Yoshikawa said at a session wrapping up the month under Uruguay's rotating presidency.

While Yoshikawa pointed out that the 15-member council was “united” in releasing a news statement, hours after Pyongyang’s Jan. 6 nuclear test, negotiations on the contents of the new resolution are still being worked out mainly between China and the United States.

Yoshikawa stressed that sanctions are “one of the important tools . . . to bring a comprehensive solution” to the issue and are effective.

Source: MENA