Russia’s alarming move goes against the tide

In a shocking development, the Panel of Experts assisting the United Nations Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on North Korea will stop its operation from April 30 due to a veto by Russia, a permanent member of the council. If the activity of the expert panel established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1874 after the North’s second nuclear test is halted 15 years after its launch in 2009, the international community will have trouble checking the North’s compliance with sanctions despite its effort to ratchet up the level of its nuclear weapons and missiles. Given a growing security threat from North Korea, we cannot dismiss the alarming development in the UN.

The eight-member panel has been carrying out its missions to investigate the North’s violations of UN sanctions, including a ban on smuggling in equipment and components for its weapons production, bringing in refined oil or transshipping it illegally, and engaging in cyberattacks and stealing cryptocurrencies. The panel has so far submitted its in-depth report to the Security Council twice a year. The annual report the panel published last month included several photos capturing the moment of clandestine weapons trade between North Korea and Russia.

The primary responsibility for the cessation of the panel’s activity should be borne by Russia. Over a Mar. 28 Security Council resolution aimed at extending the term of the panel by one more year, 13 countries of the 15-member council endorsed it. But Russia vetoed while China abstained from voting. Russia took the action after its demand for inserting a sunset provision into the North Korea sanctions was not reflected in the resolution.

Given the need to behave responsibly as a permanent member of the council, Russia deserves criticism. Moscow’s demand for the insertion of the sunset clause makes concerned parties embarrassed, as it’s the same as exonerating the North from its reckless military provocations, including ICBM launches, in clear violation of UN sanctions. Russia has persistently sided with the North since its invasion of Ukraine.

The two countries are enjoying an unprecedented honeymoon in their relations after their leaders had a summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East last September.

If the panel’s activity is terminated, the rest of the world loses a useful tool to check the North’s violations of the sanctions. Our government must devise effective measure to make up for any possible loopholes from Russia’s veto. At the same time, the government must encourage UN members to faithfully follow other UN sanctions on the North.