Russia, China make UN proposal to ease N.Korea sanctions

Russia and China on Monday proposed easing sanctions against nuclear-armed North Korea, on condition the regime commits to Security Council resolutions on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The proposal, in a draft resolution which surprised several diplomatic missions, came the same day Washington's top representative in talks with North Korea criticised Pyongyang's "hostile" statements.

The North is under heavy US and United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme but it has been frustrated at the lack of relief after it declared a moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

The draft text said the Council "shall adjust the sanction measures towards the DPRK as may be needed in light of the DPRK's compliance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions."