The presidential office says it convened on Friday a meeting of the National Security Council(NSC) and discussed independent sanctions against North Korea.
 
Since the UN Security Council(UNSC) adopted Resolution 2375 on September eleventh in response to North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, the government has been mulling independent sanctions.
 
A senior official said that the office has been going over what sanctions South Korea could apply on its own after sensing the need to adopt independent sanctions in line with the new UNSC resolution. The official noted that the U.S. has already implemented such sanctions and that Seoul and Washington have been holding discussions on the need for punitive steps.
 
The official said after a series of discussions, the government has narrowed down a list of sanctions and could make a related announcement as early as before U.S. President Donald Trump visits South Korea. Trump is set to arrive in South Korea on Tuesday for a two-day stay.
 
According to the official, Washington had urged Seoul to adopt additional sanctions, stressing that though such sanctions may not have practical effect, they would be important symbolically.