UN Security Council Ends Meeting on North Korean ICBM Without Results

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held its first open meeting of the year on the 20th (local time) in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, but it ended without any achievements.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the same day, the Security Council member states held an open meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss responses to North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch of the 'Hwasong-15'.

The emergency meeting was convened at the request of Japan, which joined the Security Council as a non-permanent member this year. Hwang Joon-kook, South Korea's ambassador to the UN, also attended as a concerned party. North Korea has continued its missile provocations, having launched one long-range ballistic missile presumed to be an ICBM into the East Sea on the afternoon of the 18th, followed by two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea on the 20th.

The United States, Japan, and other council members expressed the position that North Korea's ICBM launch violates UN resolutions and that sanctions against North Korea should be automatically strengthened in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2397 on North Korea sanctions adopted in 2017. However, China and Russia opposed additional sanctions against North Korea once again on this day. They argued that North Korea's missile launches are a legitimate response to the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.

In response, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, strongly criticized China and Russia's attempts to block official Security Council responses during the meeting and stated, "The United States will once again propose a presidential statement."

Meanwhile, it was revealed belatedly that UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres met with North Korea's UN ambassador three weeks ago to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula. On the same day, UN spokesperson St?phane Dujarric said at a regular briefing, "The Secretary-General met with North Korea's UN Ambassador Kim Song on January 30," adding, "He expressed concern about rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and called for de-escalation and full implementation of Security Council resolutions."