Determined to keep maximum pressure on North Korea over denuclearisation: US

Even as the Trump administration gets ready to open talks with Kim's regime in May, the US has urged the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) to maintain sanctions against North Korea till it scaps its controversial nuclear weapons programme.

US National Security Advisor HR McMaster after lobbying for support on the issue at the UNSC, said: "We are determined to keep up the campaign of maximum pressure until we see words match with deeds, and real progress toward denuclearization." 

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley praised China's effort to sustain sanctions against North Korea.

Dutch Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, who chairs the council's North Korea sanctions committee, said "we have to continue implementing the sanctions as they stand."

McMaster said the Trump administration wanted to move quickly because of concerns that North Korea was steadily progressing toward major advancements in its military programs.

"We may be able to pursue a diplomatic solution to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. So we’re determined to pursue that course," the US national security adviser said.