The United States of America (USA) on Monday called for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council so that this body can respond in a “united” manner to the launch of “destabilizing” ballistic missiles by North Korea.
At a meeting of the Security Council, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that “63 times this year North Korea has flagrantly violated the resolutions” of that body and “showed complete disregard for the security region of”. .
“How many more missiles must be launched before we respond as a unified Council?” questioned the diplomatic representative, accusing the Pyongyang regime of acting with impunity and without fear of a response or reprisal from the Security Council, the highest body of the UN. due to its ability to pass binding resolutions.
“This is the 10th time we have met without significant action. The reason is simple: Two veto-wielding council members are empowering and encouraging North Korea,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
The US diplomat was referring to the veto power of Russia and China – two of the five permanent members of the Security Council and allies of North Korea – which have prevented several damning resolutions in recent times.
Russia and China, according to the US ambassador, allowed the North Korean regime to carry out, last Friday, a test of an intercontinental-range ballistic missile.
For Linda Thomas-Greenfield, such an action endangered the lives of Japanese civilians and needlessly increased tensions in the region.
“I have been holding meetings with UN member states to hear their ideas on Security Council reform. And (…) when they talk about veto abuse, they are talking about cases exactly like this,” he said. .
In that regard, the United States has requested a Presidential Statement from the Security Council to hold North Korea accountable for its missile tests.
“We will give the Council another chance to hold North Korea accountable for its dangerous rhetoric and destabilizing actions. The United States will propose a Presidential Statement to this end,” he announced.
A Presidential Statement is one made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of all member countries, adopted at a formal meeting, and issued as an official document of that UN body, and is often created when the Council is unable to reach an agreement. consensus or is prevented from passing a resolution by a veto or threatened veto by a permanent member.
“Let me be clear: the United States is committed to a diplomatic approach. We are prepared for a meeting without preconditions, and I urge North Korea to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy. Respond and instead choose to continue this reckless behavior. Instead, the Board must respond,” Thomas-Greenfield concluded.
Last Friday, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, which landed in the sea, in the waters of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The missile launched by the Pyongyang regime had enough range to reach the mainland United States.
The Security Council meeting is the third in the past two months to discuss Pyongyang’s missile launches.
The Chinese ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, took advantage of the meeting to defend that his country is “concerned” about the situation on the Korean peninsula, which he considers “in an upward spiral of growing tension and intensified confrontation.”
Zhang Jun said the United States “should take the initiative, show sincerity, come up with realistic and workable proposals, respond positively to North Korea’s legitimate concerns, and turn the dialogue from a formality into a reality as soon as possible.”
For her part, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia, Anna Evstigneeva, expressed Moscow’s opposition “to any military activity that poses a threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asian states.”
However, he blamed the United States and its allies for the escalation of the situation.
“The United States and its allies carry out large-scale military exercises in the region, North Korea reacts and we have met here to discuss this. (…) From our point of view, the reason for this is obvious: the desire to Washington to force Pyongyang to unilaterally disarm through sanctions and pressure,” the Russian diplomat said.
“We deeply regret that our Western colleagues have consistently ignored Pyongyang’s numerous calls on the United States to halt its hostile activity, which would have created opportunities for dialogue. The concessions made by Pyongyang in 2018 and 2019 were not taken into account,” he said. Evstigneeva.
Also at today’s meeting, UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo provided further details on Pyongyang’s “alarming activities” related to nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
“North Korea’s continued pursuit of its nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile launches blatantly violates relevant Security Council resolutions and has led to a significant escalation of tensions,” it said.
According to DiCarlo, North Korea “appears to be actively pursuing its nuclear program,” with International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring activity there, as well as the “construction of nuclear facilities at Yongby” and the operation of a “nuclear reactor of five megawatts.” power plant”.
Some countries also criticized North Korea for spending funds on its missile program while ignoring the humanitarian needs of its people.
In connection with today’s meeting, Albania, Australia, Ecuador, France, Ireland, India, Japan, Malta, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States issued a joint statement, “endorsing the need that the Council condemn North Korea’s actions with a unified voice and take action to limit illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile advances.”
Source: TSF
