UN expert panel on sanctions against North Korea ends with ‘Russia Vito’… Government “deeply regrets”

The expert panel’s activities to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea will end at the end of next month.

The Security Council held a meeting on the 28th (local time) and voted on a resolution to extend the term of the expert panel under the North Korea Sanctions Committee. As a result, 13 of the 15 Security Council members supported and one abstained.

Despite the overwhelming approval of the majority of the members, including Korea, it was rejected due to Russia’s veto. Security Council resolutions are passed only when there are 9 votes without a veto.

The North Korea Sanctions Committee expert panel was established in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution immediately after North Korea’s second nuclear test in 2009. It has played a monitoring role by issuing reports on the implementation of North Korean sanctions twice a year.

The term of office of the panel, which consists of eight experts dispatched from eight countries including Korea, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and Singapore, has been extended by one year by the Security Council by adopting a resolution around March every year. However, this time, difficulties were expected as some board members, including Russia, were known to be putting the brakes on the extension of the term. The vote scheduled for the 22nd was postponed once.

It is understood that the difficulty in passing the agreement on the text of the resolution to extend the expert panel’s mandate has increased in recent years. And this year, it was rejected. Due to the failure to adopt the resolution, the term of the North Korea Sanctions Committee expert panel ends on April 30.

The government strongly criticized the expert panel for not being able to extend its activities due to Russia’s refusal.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lim Su-seok said in a statement released immediately after the Security Council vote results were announced, “We express deep regret,” and “At a time when the UN’s monitoring of the implementation of sanctions against North Korea should be further strengthened, Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, is going against the consensus of Security Council members. “We clearly point out that they have chosen irresponsible actions that greatly undermine the international community’s trust in the UN sanctions regime and the Security Council, which they themselves have defended.”

UN Ambassador Hwang Jun-guk also pointed out, “Russia’s egocentrism has caused the most active member of the Security Council to end its term.”

Spokesperson Lim said, “The expert panel has blatantly ignored numerous Security Council resolutions and continued to violate sanctions, including nuclear and missile provocations, illegal weapons exports and worker dispatches, theft of funds through hacking, and military cooperation with Russia.” “It has been playing the role of monitoring North Korea, which has been upgrading its nuclear and missile capabilities.”

At the same time, he emphasized that he will closely cooperate with the international community based on the will of the majority of members expressed in this Security Council vote.

Even if the expert panel activities end, the existence of the Security Council sanctions regime against North Korea will not be affected. Most council members, including the South Korean government, are expected to focus on firmly maintaining Security Council sanctions against North Korea so that North Korea can stop violating Security Council resolutions and return to the path of denuclearization.

Prior to voting on whether to extend the term of the expert panel on this day, the 10 members, including Korea and Japan, said, “We urge all Security Council members to extend the term of the panel for another year for the benefit of all member states.”

“North Korea has continued its illegal activities for several years, including launching more than 100 ballistic missiles since 2022,” the 10 countries said. “These ballistic missile launches are in violation of Security Council resolutions, causing instability in the region and global non-proliferation issues.” “It is weakening the system,” he pointed out.

He continued, “Attempts to undermine international peace and security are being repeated. “The role of the expert panel is more important than ever,” he said, adding, “This is why it is essential for the Security Council to extend the panel’s term.”

Reporter Jeong Ji-hye [email protected]

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