Russian veto eliminates UN panel monitoring enforcement of North Korea nuclear sanctions

Russia on Thursday vetoed a UN resolution that effectively ends monitoring by UN experts of UN sanctions aimed at reining in North Korea’s nuclear program, although the sanctions themselves remain in place. .

Russia’s vote drew accusations from Western countries that Moscow was working to protect its arms purchases from North Korea for use in the war against Ukraine, in violation of UN sanctions.

Tensions have risen on the Korean Peninsula after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened nuclear conflict and stepped up testing of nuclear-capable missiles designed to target South Korea, the United States and Japan. The three countries have responded by strengthening their joint military exercises and updating their deterrence plans.

In the 15-member council, 13 votes were cast in favor, Russia was against and China was absent. The Security Council resolution would have extended the mandate of the panel of experts by one year, but Russia’s veto would have caused it to cease operating when its current mandate expires at the end of April.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia told the council before the vote that Western countries were trying to “strangle” North Korea and that sanctions to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons on the country were losing their “relevance” and were “reality”. are being separated from.

He accused the panel of experts of “playing into the hands of Western viewpoints, reprinting biased information and analyzing newspaper headlines and poor quality photographs”. Therefore, he said, it is “essentially admitting its inability to come up with a serious assessment of the state of the sanctions regime.”

But US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood called the panel’s work essential and accused Russia of attempting to silence its “independent objective investigation” because it “reported on Russia’s gross violations of UN Security Council resolutions last year.” had started.”

He warned that Russia’s veto would encourage North Korea to threaten global security through the development of “long-range ballistic missiles and efforts to evade sanctions.”

White House national security spokesman John Kirby condemned Russia’s veto as a “reckless action” that weakens sanctions imposed on North Korea, while cautioning against deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia, especially When North Korea continues to supply arms to Russia because it pays the price. War in Ukraine.

“The international community must firmly uphold the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedoms and independence against Russia’s brutal aggression,” Kirby told reporters.

Britain’s UN ambassador Barbara Woodward said Russia’s veto follows an arms deal between Russia and North Korea in violation of UN sanctions, “including the transfer of ballistic missiles, which Russia has used this year.” in its illegal invasion of Ukraine since the beginning of the year.”

“This veto does not demonstrate concern for the North Korean people or the effectiveness of sanctions,” he said. “This is about Russia having the freedom to circumvent and violate sanctions in pursuit of weapons that can be used against Ukraine.”

Woodward said, “This panel, through its words to highlight non-compliance with sanctions, was an inconvenience to Russia.”

France’s UN ambassador Nicolas de Rivière said that “North Korea is providing military material to Russia in support of its aggression against Ukraine, which is a violation of several resolutions for which Russia voted.”

The Security Council imposed sanctions after North Korea’s first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and has tightened them over the years in a total of 10 resolutions, seeking to cut funding and curb its nuclear and ballistic missile programs – Which has been unsuccessful so far.

The final sanctions proposal was adopted by the Council in December 2017. China and Russia vetoed a US-sponsored resolution in May 2022 that would have imposed new restrictions on intercontinental ballistic missile launches.

The Security Council established a committee to monitor sanctions and the mandate for a panel of experts to investigate violations was renewed for 14 years as of Thursday.

In its most recent report, broadcast last month, the panel of experts said it was investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks worth about $3 billion between 2017 and 2023 over alleged use of the money to finance weapons of mass destruction. Is being done to help in the development of.

Experts said North Korea continues to violate sanctions, including by further developing its nuclear weapons and producing nuclear fissile material – a key ingredient in weapons. It also continues to import refined petroleum products in violation of Council resolutions.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)