US to Push UN Security Council Meeting on North Korea Provocations on the 21st (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As the United States raises its level of response to North Korea's missile provocations, attention is focused on how North Korea will react. With the vicious cycle of 'provocation-sanctions-additional provocation-additional sanctions' becoming entrenched, there are concerns that the situation on the Korean Peninsula will further cool down.

According to diplomatic circles on the 19th, the United States requested the convening of a United Nations Security Council meeting on the 18th (local time) regarding North Korea's recent missile launches.

AFP reported that the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Mexico, and Albania joined the U.S. request for the Security Council meeting. A diplomat who requested anonymity told AFP that, following this request, a closed Security Council meeting is scheduled to be held on the 20th. The meeting is expected to take place in the early morning of the 21st Korean time. If the UN Security Council meeting is held, it will be the second meeting this year following the one on the 10th in response to North Korea's missile provocations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this context, there is growing speculation that the United States will maintain a tough stance for the time being, including applying strong pressure on North Korea through the 'sanctions' card.

After North Korea's second missile launch this year, the U.S. requested the Security Council meeting and, just before the closed meeting on the 10th, issued a joint statement with Albania, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Japan condemning North Korea's missile launches and urging restraint from further provocations.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, recently said in an interview with The Washington Post, "We will continue to increase pressure on North Korea."

In particular, the U.S. is pushing to add individuals and entities recently designated for independent sanctions by the Treasury Department to the Security Council sanctions list as well.

North Korea has responded to the U.S.'s tough stance by increasing missile launches and intensifying criticism through various media outlets.

However, so far, no statements have been issued by the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Workers' Party Propaganda and Agitation Department and sister of Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party.

Nevertheless, if the U.S. strengthens sanctions against North Korea through the UN Security Council or increases pressure via the international community, there is a possibility that North Korea will issue an official message from General Secretary Kim along with military provocations.

A diplomatic expert said, "North Korea is likely to continue missile launches until the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for March and April, while raising its critical voice against the U.S.," adding, "Our government will lose the justification and momentum to engage in inter-Korean dialogue, including a declaration to formally end the war."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not made an official statement regarding the U.S. request for a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

However, on the 19th, Choi Jong-geun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed issues related to the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's missile launches, in a phone call with Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two vice ministers shared the situation of North Korea's recent consecutive missile launches and reaffirmed their openness to all measures for the stable management of the Korean Peninsula situation and the prompt resumption of dialogue with North Korea.

The U.S. Department of State stated, "Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned North Korea's recent multiple ballistic missile launches as violations of several United Nations Security Council resolutions," and "discussed ongoing joint efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.