UN Security Council fails to unite on North Korea

North Korea

Published: 21 Feb. 2023, 18:53

UN Security Council fails to unite on North Korea

U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reads a joint statement on North Korea after a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on Monday in New York City. [AFP/YONHAP]

The UN Security Council meeting in New York on Monday following the most recent North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch came up empty-handed again with the council remaining divided.

“We urge all UN member states to join us in condemning the DPRK's irresponsible behavior,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, speaking to the press after the council meeting, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its full name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Conspicuously missing in the throng of representatives standing side-by-side to Thomas-Greenfield at the press meeting were those of Russia and China.

“It is time the Security Council spoke again with one voice against the DPRK’s declared efforts to develop an unlawful nuclear arsenal that would pose a grave danger to the world,” she said. “Council silence has not led to restraint in Pyongyang. In fact, it has emboldened the DPRK authorities. This latest ICBM launch is a test of the Council’s resolve and purpose, and we must now act.”

North Korea fired an ICBM last Saturday, and two short-range ballistic missiles on Monday, continuing its streak of heightened military provocations from last year. The regime tested over 90 ballistic missiles last year.

The Security Council, which used to consistently issue resolutions to punish Pyongyang for its military provocations from 2006, failed to issue a sanctions resolution for the first time in May last year.

Russia and China, part of the five permanent members of the council, vetoed the U.S.-drafted resolution to strengthen sanctions on North Korea. A sanctions resolution at the council requires the votes of all permanent members.

The resolution would have cut exports of crude oil to the North from 4 million barrels a year to 3 million barrels and slashed refined petroleum exports from 500,000 barrels to 375,000 barrels. It would have also banned the sale of all tobacco products.

The discord among members continued at the council meeting Monday.

The Chinese representative to the United Nations blamed the United States for escalating tensions in the region with its joint military exercises with Korea and Japan.

“Since the beginning of this year, the U.S. and its allies have stepped up joint military activities around the peninsula targeting the DPRK,” said China's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dai Bing in addressing the council at the UN headquarters in New York.

Also taking a jab at the NATO secretary general’s recent trip to Asia, Dai said, “Such moves are highly provocative to the DPRK and aggravate a sense of insecurity.”

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, also condemned the recent American and allies’ drills in the region of the Korean Peninsula.

“Time and again we only hear about the sanctions dimensions of the resolutions,” said Polyanskiy. “But there is a need to end the dead-end and inhumane policy of increasing sanctions pressure on Pyongyang.”

The South Korean ambassador to the United Nations called out China and Russia at the meeting.

“It is deplorable that this council failed to properly respond to the DPRK’s repeated violations of multiple Security Council resolutions due to the vetoes wielded by the two permanent members last May despite the support of all of the other 13 council members,” said Hwang Joon-kook.

Hwang reminded the audience that Russia and China had voted in favor of 10 Security Council resolutions on North Korea from 2006 to 2017.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]