Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Danny Russel told Reuters on Tuesday that increasing sanctions could be likened to adjusting a medicine regimen when the desired effects are not achieved. Russel mentioned the possibility of implementing new sanctions by the UN Security Council, the United States independently, or a coalition of countries from the European Union and Southeast Asia in addition to the US. North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch led to increased UN sanctions aimed at cutting off funding for its nuclear weapons program. There are concerns that North Korea may conduct another nuclear test soon, possibly before a ruling party congress in early May, following a failed missile test. Estimates suggest that up to 150,000 North Korean workers are employed abroad, primarily in China and Russia, bringing in around $900 million annually. North Koreans are employed in various industries overseas, including restaurants, construction, and as doctors. The success of current or future sanctions against North Korea depends largely on China, its closest ally and biggest trading partner, fully enforcing them. Chinese officials urge all parties to avoid escalating tensions and to remain calm in order to resume talks. When asked about potential support for tougher sanctions in response to another nuclear test, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman declined to comment on hypothetical scenarios. If North Korea were to conduct a fifth nuclear test, the US, South Korea, and Japan could take unspecified defense-related actions. He stated that as the threat increases, our defensive capabilities must also adapt. He emphasized the possibility of North Korea choosing a diplomatic route by reopening negotiations to limit its nuclear program. South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee suggested focusing more on sanctions rather than dialogue, especially as North Korea talks about further provocation. Russel discussed potential responses to a fifth nuclear test by North Korea, noting that sanctions have not effectively deterred them since their first nuclear test in 2006. He clarified that no decisions have been made yet regarding a response to an event that has not yet happened. US General Vincent Brooks, who has been nominated by President Barack Obama to lead American forces in South Korea, stated on Tuesday that China was displeased with North Korea's actions, such as its nuclear advancements, but was hesitant to use pressure that could jeopardize Kim Jong Un's regime. Brooks also mentioned that Kim Jong Un seemed to be more daring, confident, and impulsive than his father, Kim Jong Il, as he aggressively pursued the North's nuclear program despite international objections. Assistant Secretary of State Russel noted that it would require time to evaluate the effectiveness of the latest sanctions, but Beijing had exhausted its usual methods of persuasion with North Korea and had now resorted to applying pressure. He suggested that a more forceful and sustained approach towards North Korea had not been tried before. The North Korean economy's dependence on China and its access to China is so significant that any resolve from China could represent a new development. However, Frank Jannuzi, a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer for East Asia and the Pacific, expressed doubt that China had truly changed its stance and was now willing to exert more substantial pressure on North Korea. Jannuzi believes that although China still holds economic leverage over North Korea, they are hesitant to fully utilize it due to concerns about the potential consequences, such as conflict, refugees, or turmoil.