Russia and China block UN action against North Korea

The United States and its allies strongly condemned North Korea’s recent tests of what it believed to be intercontinental ballistic missiles at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday. However, due to opposition from Russia and China, the Security Council could not take any steps in response to these recent actions of North Korea.

On Sunday, North Korea’s foreign minister called UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a “puppet” for supporting the US in condemning the missile tests.

“The People’s Republic of Korea continues to act unabated by the lack of action by the Security Council,” said a joint statement signed by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield and representatives of 14 other countries. “

Earlier in the meeting, the US released a proposed presidential statement condemning the missile launch and asking North Korea to abide by recent UN sanctions and refrain from ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

North Korea has conducted an unusual number of missile tests this year and there are fears that it may be preparing another nuclear test for the first time since 2016.

The statement issued by the US ambassador must be signed by all 15 members of the Security Council to be implemented. Anna Avesti, Russia’s deputy ambassador to Geneva, said North Korea’s increased aggression is due to “Washington’s desire to unilaterally disarm Pyongyang by imposing sanctions and using force.”

Nah referred to recent US military exercises with South Korea, which included exercises to target North Korean missiles and defense systems. This angered Pyongyang.

The US says that all these military exercises with South Korea and Japan were of a defensive nature. Avesta Geneva said inter-Korean talks and multilateral talks are needed to prevent the situation from worsening.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun said that the United Nations should discuss the issue of North Korea before the situation gets out of control.

He also urged the US to “take the initiative to make realistic proposals, respond positively to North Korea’s concerns, stop military exercises and ease sanctions.”

Thomas Greenfield said the US was “ready to meet without preconditions” and called for “serious and sustained diplomacy with North Korea”. He, however, said that North Korea is not responding to any positive proposals and instead has adopted an attitude of indifference.”