Failed North Korea Sanctions... North Korea-US 'Strong Against Strong' Stance Likely to Continue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United States' effort to strengthen UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea was thwarted by opposition from China and Russia. However, the US continues to call for "additional sanctions" through the international community, indicating that the hardline confrontation between North Korea and the US is likely to persist.

According to major foreign media, on the 20th (local time), China and Russia requested a hold on the US proposal for additional sanctions against North Korea. Earlier, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, submitted a proposal to designate five North Koreans affiliated with the North Korean Academy of Defense Science, who were independently sanctioned by the US Treasury Department on the 12th, as targets for UNSC sanctions as well. This proposal was set to be automatically approved unless opposed by any of the 15 Security Council members, but with China and Russia requesting a hold, additional UNSC sanctions became impossible. The hold on the additional sanctions will last for six months, and other council members may extend the hold by another three months. As a result, it has become practically difficult for the Security Council to impose sanctions on North Korea's missile launches.

Regarding this, Liu Xiaoming, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, explained the reason for exercising the veto during a call with Noh Kyu-duk, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating, "The US must abandon its 'sanctions omnipotence theory' and take substantive measures."

The likelihood of a "strongman versus strongman" confrontation between the US and North Korea has increased. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield urged all council members to unite in condemning North Korea's violations of UNSC resolutions in a joint statement just before a closed Security Council meeting on the same day, reiterating her demand for additional sanctions against the five individuals affiliated with the North Korean Academy of Defense Science. In particular, North Korea's indication the previous day of the possibility of resuming ICBM and nuclear tests has become a major negative factor in North Korea-US relations.

Kim Yong-hyun, a professor in the Department of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University, predicted, "Tensions between North Korea and the US are likely to escalate step by step," adding, "If North Korea gradually raises the level of its military demonstrations, the US is likely to impose unilateral sanctions accordingly."