Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Despite U.S. imposed recent sanctions against Russia and President Trump’s rebuke and trade threat to China, the United States, and the above two parties could get along together on the North Korea issue and imposed sanctions against the country for its continued testing of ballistic missiles in violations of UN resolution. With 15 votes in favor, Resolution 2371 was passed unanimously by the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC). The resolution targets North Korea's primary exports, including coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore, and seafood. The sanctions also target other revenue streams, such as banks and joint ventures with foreign companies. It stopped short against sanctioning of North Korean workers earning abroad. According to estimate and UN ambassador Nikki Haley, the resolution would reduce North Korea’s export revenue of $3 billion by almost a third.
After the resolution was passed, President Trump tweeted, “The United Nations Security Council just voted 15-0 to sanction North Korea. China and Russia voted with us. Very big financial impact!” and shared that he had a call with the South Korean President by tweeting, “Just completed call with President Moon of South Korea. Very happy and impressed with 15-0 United Nations vote on North Korea sanctions.”
At the ASEAN summit, held over the weekend in Manila, Chinese foreign minister Ri Yong Ho rebuked North Korea by saying, “Do not violate the U.N.’s decision or provoke the international society’s good will by conducting missile launching or nuclear tests”. He, however, added, “Of course, we would like to urge other parties like the United States and South Korea to stop increasing tensions.”
