Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/UNITED NATIONS: The United States (US) has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to condemn North Korea’s latest ballistic missiles launches and encourage Pyongyang to engage in diplomacy, warning the 15-member body’s failure to respond was dangerous.
During the UNSC debate, Russia and China opposed any further action by the council, arguing that putting additional pressure on North Korea wouldn’t be constructive. The pair vetoed a US-led push to impose more UN sanctions on North Korea last May.
US ambassador stance
“The reality is those who shield the DPRK (North Korea) from the consequences of its missiles test put the Asian region and entire globe at risk of conflict,” said US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“The council’s lack of action is worse than shameful. It is dangerous,” she told the UNSC, proposing that it adopted a formal statement one step below a resolution to condemn North Korea’s actions.
Previously, the council took action on North Korea was when it adopted a resolution to strengthen sanctions in December 2017 over Pyongyang’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
China’s Deputy United Nations Ambassador Dai Bing said repeated council meetings and calls for more sanctions on North Korea “neither embodies the constructive role of easing the situation nor brings fresh ideas conducive for solving the problem.”
