Russia "Refusal to Extend UN North Korea Sanctions Panel, Decision for National Interest"

"No More Approaching North Korea with Old Frameworks"
"Failure of Resolution Vote Is the West's Responsibility"

Russia exercised its veto against the resolution to extend the mandate of the expert panel under the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee, with the stance that this decision was made in Russia's national interest.

Mariya Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Photo by TASS Yonhap News]

On the 29th (local time), Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, stated in a briefing that the reason Russia decided to exercise its veto was because "this position better aligns with our interests."

At the official UN Security Council meeting the previous day, the resolution to extend the mandate of the North Korea sanctions expert panel was put to a vote and was rejected with 13 votes in favor, 1 against, and 1 abstention. For the resolution to pass, it must receive the support of at least 9 of the 15 Security Council member states. Additionally, none of the five permanent members? the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France? must exercise their veto. However, Russia opposed the resolution, causing its failure. China abstained. Due to the rejection of this resolution, the UN has lost the means to report future violations of North Korea sanctions.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained the reason for opposing the resolution in a statement released on the Ministry’s website that day, saying, "It is clear that the UN Security Council can no longer use the old template regarding the Korean Peninsula issue."

She added, "Over the past several years, North Korea sanctions have not helped improve security in the region but rather worsened it," and "If the views of the Russian Federation are not heard, the termination of the UN expert panel’s activities on North Korea sanctions is the fault of the West."

Furthermore, spokesperson Zakharova claimed, "Our proposals were not simply ignored but literally met with hostility," and "(The existing approach of the Security Council) clearly proves that the United States and its allies have no interest beyond tightening the noose around North Korea’s neck, and peaceful resolution is not on the agenda."

She also urged, "Russia is doing its best to comply with international obligations," and "Relevant parties should refocus on finding ways to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula."

At the UN Security Council meeting the previous day, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, stated, "Sanctions have lost their appropriateness in preventing the proliferation of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and are out of touch with reality," calling for adjustments to North Korea sanctions to reflect the changed reality.