New York, United States – Russia has vetoed the United Nations’ renewal of a panel of experts monitoring North Korea’s compliance with international sanctions. This move follows accusations from the United States, South Korea, and others that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia for use in its conflict in Ukraine. The panel, responsible for monitoring compliance with sanctions imposed on North Korea nearly 20 years ago, recently reported investigating reports of arms transfers.
South Korea’s UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, criticized Russia’s veto, comparing it to destroying a CCTV camera to avoid being caught red-handed. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the veto as a guilty plea. The panel, which reports to the Security Council twice a year, recommended actions to enhance the implementation of sanctions first imposed in 2006 and gradually strengthened over time. Its mandate is set to expire at the end of April.
Experts and officials have expressed concerns over the veto, with Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, noting the ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council in dealing with North Korea and the unwillingness of certain permanent members to fulfill their obligations. During negotiations on the draft text, Russia and China unsuccessfully pushed for an annual renewal requirement for the sanctions regime, reflecting their desire to ease sanctions in recent years.
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused Western nations of trying to strangle North Korea and argued that sanctions were losing their relevance in preventing nuclear proliferation. The panel’s most recent report highlighted North Korea’s continued flouting of sanctions, including launching ballistic missiles, breaching oil import limits, and suspected cyberattacks that generated funds for its weapons programs.
The United States and South Korea, aware of North Korea’s continued weapon development, launched a task force to prevent the illicit acquisition of oil by North Korea. Despite the veto, the UK ambassador emphasized that the sanctions regime remains in place, underscoring the commitment to holding North Korea accountable for compliance. The veto by Russia not only impacts the panel’s ability to report on violations but also raises concerns about emboldening North Korea to further threaten global security through its missile development efforts.