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UP FRONTFriday 26 February 2016

Biden: Campaign rhetoric on Mexico ‘dangerous’ US calls proposed sanctions on
North Korea a ‘major upgrade’
PETER ORSI poison the well and at the said. “But here’s what I’m
Associated Press same time work out a real here to tell you: They do MICHAEL ASTOR on North Korea’s “prolifer-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Vice estate agreement to buy not, they do not, they do Associated Press ation network” by requir-
President Joe Biden said the well,” he said. not represent the view of UNITED NATIONS (AP) ing U.N. member states
Thursday that some U.S. Without naming names the vast majority of the — The United States on to expel its diplomats and
campaign rhetoric about Biden was generally critical American people.” Thursday introduced a functionaries of compa-
Mexico and immigrants of Republican candidates, Biden was accompanied draft U.N. Security Council nies found to be involved
has been “dangerous, several of whom have pro- by U.S. Commerce Secre- resolution that it said will in illicit activities.
damaging and incredibly posed measures from wall- tary Penny Pritzker, Energy significantly increase pres- The draft resolution would
ill-advised” and is out of ing the entire U.S.-Mexico Secretary Ernest Moniz and sure on North Korea in re- also ban imports of avia-
step with most Americans’ border to deporting all 11 Interior Secretary Sally Jew- sponse to its latest nuclear tion fuel, with no excep-
attitudes. million people estimated ell. test and missile launch. tions, and exports of rare
Ambassador Samantha earths and mineral by
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, second from right, addresses the Mexican delegation at the start Power said the draft is North Korea, the diplomat
of a meeting of the High Level Economic Dialogue between Mexico and the U.S., in Mexico City, meant to ensure North Ko- said.
Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Biden is heading up a high-level U.S. delegation that’s in Mexico for an- rea will be held account- The official stressed that
nual talks on boosting economic and commercial ties between the two countries. able for its actions. the sanctions target the
“It is a major upgrade and ruling elite and are de-
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) there will be, provided it signed not to add to the
goes forward, pressure “grave hardship of the
Speaking in Mexico City to be living in the United Jewell and her Mexi- on more points, tougher, people of DPRK.”
at Cabinet-level talks on States illegally. GOP front- can counterparts signed more comprehensive, Items such as luxury
boosting economic and runner Donald Trump said agreements to cooper- more sectors. It’s breaking watches, snowmobiles,
commercial ties with one last year that Mexico was ate on energy issues, con- new ground in a whole recreational water ve-
of the United States’ top sending crime, drugs and servation and preparing host of ways,” Power hicles and lead crystal
trading partners, Biden re- “rapists” north of the bor- for the impacts of climate said before heading into were also added to a list
assured Mexican officials der. change, the U.S. Inte- a closed-door meeting of luxury goods that North
that such talk does not re- “Some of the rhetoric com- rior Department said in a where the U.S. planned to Korea is not allowed to im-
flect progress in the coun- ing from some of the presi- statement. The secretary circulate the draft to all 15 port.
tries’ bilateral relations. dential candidates on the also commended recent council members. North Korea started off
“The main message I want- other team are I think dan- Mexican reforms opening The draft is the result of an the new year with what it
ed to say to you is that I gerous, damaging and in- its energy sector to private agreement between the claims was its first hydro-
understand that you can’t credibly ill-advised,” Biden investment.q United States and China, gen bomb test on Jan.
North Korea’s main ally. 6 and followed that up
China accuses US chief of using smears The council is expected to with the launch of a sat-
vote on it over the week- ellite on a rocket on Feb.
C. BODEEN ing the economically and seeking defense budget end. 7 that was condemned
Associated Press strategically vital waterway funds, but you can’t care- A U.S. official familiar with by much of the world as
BEIJING (AP) — China’s De- and seeking “hegemony” lessly smear China while the draft, who asked a test of banned missile
fense Ministry says the com- in East Asia. asking for more money,” not to be identified be- technology.
mander of U.S. forces in China adamantly denies Wu said. cause negotiations were Over the past 10 years,
the Pacific smeared China such accusations and says In his testimony before the ongoing, said the pro- North Korea has conduct-
while seeking additional Washington and its allies House of Representatives posed new sanctions are ed four nuclear tests and
defense funding from Con- are responsible for raising on Wednesday, Harris com- broader in scope than in launched six long-range
gress, in the latest accusa- tensions. mented on the Chinese previous resolutions and missiles — all in violation
tion in a war of words ac- “I have noted that accord- armed forces’ construc- contain unprecedented of Security Council resolu-
companying rising tensions ing to media reports, Adm. tion and extension of is- enforcement provisions, tions.
in the South China Sea. Harris made his remarks lands in the highly disputed including a requirement The U.N. draft follows a
Ministry spokesman Col. Wu while seeking additional South China Sea. China is that countries inspect any flurry of activity in Wash-
Qian on Thursday strongly defense budget funds from also adding airstrips, har- cargo passing through ington, including meet-
criticized Adm. Harry Har- Congress,” Wu told report- bors, radar stations and their country on its way to ings between China’s
ris Jr.’s testimony before ers at a monthly news brief- other infrastructure and or from North Korea. Foreign Minister Wang
Congress, in which Harris ing. deploying surface-to-air The draft also includes a Yi and U.S. Secretary of
said China was militariz- “We don’t interfere in your missiles on some. q total ban on arms sales by State John Kerry on Tues-
or to North Korea, closing day, and with National Se-
a loophole for small arms curity Adviser Susan Rice
and light weapons in ear- on Wednesday.
lier sanctions resolutions. The U.S., its Western allies
It also would ban flights by and Japan, also pressed
North Korean planes be- for new sanctions that go
lieved to be carrying illicit beyond the North’s nucle-
goods. ar and missile programs.
Taking aim at the coun- But China, Pyongyang’s
try’s finances, the draft neighbor and supporter
resolution requires states on the council, is reluctant
to freeze assets that are to impose measures that
determined to be associ- could threaten the sta-
ated with North Korea’s bility of North Korea and
ballistic missile program. It cause the country’s econ-
also seeks to crack down omy to collapse.q