Russian and Chinese officials on Tuesday vetoed a U.S. resolution calling on the United Nations Security Council to rule on North Korea’s ballistic tests as a «flawed» political agenda regarding the Korean peninsula.
Anna Evstigneeva, the ‘number two’ of the Russian representation to the UN, has pointed out that Moscow «opposes any military activity that poses a threat to the security of the peninsula and the states of Northeast Asia», as stated in a press release.
«We again see this vicious circle in the North Korean context. The United States and its allies conduct large-scale military exercises in the region. North Korea, unsurprisingly, talks back, and we meet here to address the issue. The thing is, with each new cycle, the positions become more and more dangerous for peace and security,» he explained.
For her, the reason for all this «is obvious.» «Washington wants to force Pyongyang to unilateral disarmament through sanctions and pressure. The United States, South Korea and Japan continue to carry out military maneuvers in the area as part of a new concept of deterrence,» she said.
«At the previous Security Council meeting on this issue we also addressed U.S. and allied exercises at the regional level (…) It is obvious that North Korea’s missile launches are a consequence of U.S. military activity near the country,» he said.
In this sense, he stressed the importance of «not isolating these issues from the rest of world affairs» and pointed out that «Washington’s unilateral security doctrine cannot be ignored».
For his part, the Chinese representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, regretted the «growing spiral of tension» around the Korean peninsula and expressed his concern in this regard, although he pointed out that Beijing «hopes that the parties involved will make progress towards an understanding» in the area.
«Increased tension serves no one’s interests and is not something China wants. The world today is full of uncertainties and the Korean peninsula cannot afford further damage and further deterioration of the situation,» he explained before affirming that «the parties should focus on peace and stability.»
He also pointed out that «all parties should remain calm and act cautiously so as not to provoke an increase in tension,» the Chinese government said in a statement.
«We need to correct the course of events and restore dialogue,» he insisted before calling on the United States to «show sincerity and put realistic proposals on the table» that would «respond to North Korea’s legitimate concerns.»
Zhang stressed the importance of the Security Council «playing a constructive role that (…) contributes to reducing tension on the peninsula instead of creating obstacles».
US REQUEST The United States had previously asked the UN Security Council to pronounce itself on North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, especially after the latest ballistic tests carried out by Pyongyang.
«We will offer another opportunity for the Council to hold North Korea accountable for its dangerous rhetoric and destabilizing actions,» U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said earlier.
Greenfield had urged the Security Council to join the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who condemned last Friday’s long-range ballistic missile launch and called on Pyongyang to stop its «provocations» and «comply fully with its international obligations.»
«It is time for the Security Council to make the same call as the secretary-general. For too long, North Korea has acted with impunity,» the U.S. ambassador criticized.
Pyongyang has conducted numerous ballistic tests throughout this year, including the launch of short- and long-range ballistic missiles, as well as a medium-range missile that flew over the Japanese archipelago. The intercontinental projectile launched on Friday can carry several nuclear warheads to a radius of about 15,000 kilometers, which would allow it to reach the entire U.S. mainland.
