Russia vetoed on Thursday the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of longstanding United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
The move comes amid US-led accusations that North Korea has transferred weapons to Russia, which Moscow has used in its war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.
Resolution 1718 was adopted in October 2006 in response to North Korea's nuclear test. It banned the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of any military equipment and weapons, as well as materials, equipment, goods and technology that could be used in North Korea's WMD programs. The UNSC has since adopted a number of other resolutions tightening sanctions on North Korea. The committee was formed to monitor compliance with the sanctions imposed by the Security Council.
As Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said before the vote, the Security Council had long been faced with the need for giving thought to actualizing the sanction regime against North Korea, while the group of experts of this sanctions committee no longer coped with its duties.
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Russia has vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
ReplyDeleteChina abstained from the vote, while the remaining 13 council members voted in favour.
But the move comes amid US-led accusations that North Korea has transferred weapons to Russia to use in its war in Ukraine.
Moscow and Pyongyang denied the accusations but committed to deepen military relations last year.