South Korea is considering various measures to put more pressure on North Korea as part of follow-up efforts to the latest sanctions resolution agreed by the UN Security Council, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

The UNSC unanimously adopted a new set of sanctions against the North last week to punish it for its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, which was conducted earlier this month. They include restricting energy supplies to the North for the first time.

"Various measures are under consideration to place more pressure on the North," foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told a regular press briefing. "Consultations are underway among the relevant government agencies."

Cho made the remarks in response to a question about whether the Seoul government is drawing up any unilateral sanctions on the North in line with the latest UNSC resolution.
 

The spokesman added that South Korea maintains its close coordination with the international community for a "thorough" and "complete" implementation of existing sanctions.

Touching on worries that the government's earlier decision to provide US$8 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the North could compromise global efforts to put more pressure on its regime through sanctions, Cho said that South Korea has been in close consultation with relevant countries on the move from the beginning.

He reaffirmed that the government made the decision based on its stance that humanitarian aid should be separated from any political considerations. 

"When it will be provided to the North, however, will be determined by taking into account all related factors including situations linked to inter-Korean relations," he added. (Yonhap)