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Russia shuts down UN watchdog tracking North Korea sanctions | Russia shuts down UN watchdog tracking North Korea sanctions |
(32 minutes later) | |
Earlier in 2023, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) met his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un | Earlier in 2023, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) met his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un |
Russia has shut down a panel of UN experts that have for years monitored sanctions against North Korea. | Russia has shut down a panel of UN experts that have for years monitored sanctions against North Korea. |
The panel last week said it was probing reports that Russia violated rules by buying North Korean weapons like ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine. | The panel last week said it was probing reports that Russia violated rules by buying North Korean weapons like ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine. |
The UN's Security Council has imposed a series of sanctions on Pyongyang since 2006 for its nuclear weapons programme. | The UN's Security Council has imposed a series of sanctions on Pyongyang since 2006 for its nuclear weapons programme. |
Those restrictions are still in force - but the experts group set up to monitor violations will now be disbanded. | Those restrictions are still in force - but the experts group set up to monitor violations will now be disbanded. |
In a Security Council vote on Thursday, Russia used its veto power as a permanent member to block the renewal, while 13 of the other 14 member states present voted for it. China, Pyongyang's closest ally, abstained. | In a Security Council vote on Thursday, Russia used its veto power as a permanent member to block the renewal, while 13 of the other 14 member states present voted for it. China, Pyongyang's closest ally, abstained. |
Russia's block triggered a wave of condemnation from the US, UK, South Korea and other Western allies and comes after a year of high-profile public meetings between Moscow and Pyongyang leaders. | Russia's block triggered a wave of condemnation from the US, UK, South Korea and other Western allies and comes after a year of high-profile public meetings between Moscow and Pyongyang leaders. |
This is the first time Russia has blocked the panel - which has been renewed annually by the UN Security Council for 14 years. | This is the first time Russia has blocked the panel - which has been renewed annually by the UN Security Council for 14 years. |
Russia said to be using N Korean missiles in Ukraine | Russia said to be using N Korean missiles in Ukraine |
Is North Korea's leader actually considering war? | Is North Korea's leader actually considering war? |
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on social media Russia's veto was tantamount to "a guilty plea" that it was using North Korean weapons in the war. | |
The US, UK and France all told the Council that Russia was silencing the watchdog because it had begun to report on Moscow's own violations of the rules- specifically purchasing weapons from North Korea for the battlegrounds in Ukraine. | The US, UK and France all told the Council that Russia was silencing the watchdog because it had begun to report on Moscow's own violations of the rules- specifically purchasing weapons from North Korea for the battlegrounds in Ukraine. |
Meanwhile, South Korea's representative at the UN criticised Russia's "blind self-centeredness" and said it had no justification "for disbanding the guardians" of the sanctions regime. | Meanwhile, South Korea's representative at the UN criticised Russia's "blind self-centeredness" and said it had no justification "for disbanding the guardians" of the sanctions regime. |
"This is almost comparable to destroying a CCTV to avoid being caught red-handed," Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said. | "This is almost comparable to destroying a CCTV to avoid being caught red-handed," Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said. |
Russia has consistently denied using North Korean weapons and its representative at the UN again dismissed the accusations on Thursday. | Russia has consistently denied using North Korean weapons and its representative at the UN again dismissed the accusations on Thursday. |
Vasily Nebenzia also argued that the panel of experts had no added value. | Vasily Nebenzia also argued that the panel of experts had no added value. |
"The panel has continued to focus on trivial matters that are not commensurate with the problems facing the peninsula," said Mr Nebenzia, who also added that sanctions had imposed a "heavy burden" on the North Korean people. | "The panel has continued to focus on trivial matters that are not commensurate with the problems facing the peninsula," said Mr Nebenzia, who also added that sanctions had imposed a "heavy burden" on the North Korean people. |
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed off his country's missiles to Russia's Defence Minister on a visit last year | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed off his country's missiles to Russia's Defence Minister on a visit last year |
Since 2019, Russia and China have sought to persuade the Security Council to ease sanctions. | Since 2019, Russia and China have sought to persuade the Security Council to ease sanctions. |
The Security Council first imposed sanctions in 2006 in response to a North Korean nuclear test, and has since passed 10 more resolutions strengthening them as Pyongyang's nuclear activity has continued. | |
However Kim Jong Un's regime has largely ignored the sanctions- despite their impact on the economy. The North Korean leader has rapidly continued nuclear weapons development and has pursued a more aggressive and dangerous military strategy in recent years. | However Kim Jong Un's regime has largely ignored the sanctions- despite their impact on the economy. The North Korean leader has rapidly continued nuclear weapons development and has pursued a more aggressive and dangerous military strategy in recent years. |
The UN experts say North Korea continues to flout sanctions through increased missile test launches and developing nuclear weapons. The regime launched a spy satellite this year - with technology believed to have been provided by Russia. | The UN experts say North Korea continues to flout sanctions through increased missile test launches and developing nuclear weapons. The regime launched a spy satellite this year - with technology believed to have been provided by Russia. |
In breach of the sanctions, it also continues to import refined petroleum products and send workers overseas, and the UN panel's most recent report detailed a campaign of cyber attacks. | |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
War in Ukraine | |
Russia | Russia |
North Korea missile tests | North Korea missile tests |
United Nations | United Nations |
North Korea | North Korea |