UN Security Council to Vote on Additional North Korea Sanctions on 26th... China and Russia Likely to Veto (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will vote on additional sanctions against North Korea, led by the United States, on the 26th (local time). However, there is also a possibility that permanent members China and Russia may exercise their veto power.

According to the Associated Press on the 25th, the United States, the UNSC chair country for May, announced plans to hold a vote on the additional sanctions resolution against North Korea on the 26th.

Since North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on March 24, the United States has prepared a new resolution to halve the annual export volumes of crude oil and refined oil to North Korea to 2 million barrels and 250,000 barrels respectively, and has been discussing it with Security Council members.

AFP News Agency, citing sources, reported that the sanctions include not only restrictions on North Korea's refined oil imports but also on mineral fuels and watch exports by the international community. The resolution is also said to include export sanctions on tobacco leaves and cigarettes targeting North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and other smokers.

This is a response to North Korea's launch of three ballistic missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), into the East Sea the day before U.S. President Joe Biden returned home after visiting South Korea and Japan.

Mark Lambert, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan, said at a briefing that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa spoke by phone, and "all three ministers condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches as clear violations of the UN Security Council."

He emphasized, "North Korea's continuous provocations pose a threat to all countries and regional peace and security," adding, "It is the duty of the entire international community to condemn North Korea's repeated violations of Security Council resolutions and to maintain their implementation."

The vote on this resolution led by the United States is drawing more attention as it takes place with only a short time left in the tenure of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the UN and Security Council chair.

However, within the UN, there is speculation that China and Russia, which are close to North Korea, may exercise their veto power. For the resolution to be adopted, at least nine of the 15 Security Council members must vote in favor, and none of the five permanent members may exercise a veto. On the 25th, the Chinese Mission to the UN issued a statement expressing a negative stance on the sanctions, saying, "The additional sanctions resolution proposed by the United States will not solve any problems."