President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that China, North Korea's principal trading partner, has ordered its banks to stop doing business with the rogue regime.
"I'm very proud to tell you that, as you may have just heard moments ago, China, their central bank has told their other banks — that's a massive banking system — to immediately stop doing business with North Korea," he said at the United Nations alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Trump went on, "Again, I want to just say and thank President Xi [Jinping] of China for the very bold move he made today. That was a somewhat unexpected move, and we appreciate it."
Trump spoke after signing an executive order aimed at companies and financial institutions that do business with North Korea.
"Foreign banks will face a clear choice to do business with the United States or facilitate trade with the lawless regime in North Korea," he said.
Trump at UN threatens to 'totally destroy' N. Korea, calls Iran 'murderous regime' Experts break down the North Korean threat amid heightened tensions Along North Korea's border with China, an uneasy alliance and a fear of warTrump argued that his order will "cut off sources of revenue that fund North Korea's efforts to develop the deadliest weapons known to humankind." Early this month, North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test yet, and last week the country fired a missile over Japanese airspace. Abe welcomed the new sanctions enforced by the United States.
According to Trump, the U.S. Treasury Department will begin identifying new industries that it can target with strong sanctions, like manufacturing, fishing and textiles.
"For much too long, North Korea has been allowed to abuse the international financial system to facilitate funding for nuclear weapons and missile programs," said Trump.
He said the U.S. seeks a "complete denuclearization of North Korea."
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin affirmed the president's stance, telling reporters this afternoon, "No bank in any country should be used to facilitate Kim Jong Un's destructive behavior." He emphasized that "the action is directed at everyone" and not specifically China.
The new sanctions from the Trump administration come two days after he told the United Nations that the U.S. would "totally destroy" North Korea if its leader, Kim Jong Un does harm to the U.S. or its allies.
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said Tuesday in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.
"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," Trump said, using an epithet he has recently adopted to refer to Kim.
Trump teased the announcement during his meeting with Moon earlier in the day and told reporters to "stay tuned."
During that meeting, Moon praised Trump's speech Thursday as "strong" and said he believes it will "help contain North Korea."
"North Korea has continued to make provocations, and this is extremely deplorable, and this has angered me and our people," Moon said. "The United States has responded firmly and in a very good way."
"I'm happy you used the word 'deplorable,'" Trump said, getting some laughs from the room. "I promise, I did not tell them to use that word."
"That's been a very lucky word for me and many millions of other people," he added, referring to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's characterization of some of Trump’s supporters as “deplorable” before the election last year.