US-China Conflict and North Korea Missile Provocation, International Community Sanctions Fail

UN Security Council Condemns North Korea
Sanctions Fail Due to US-China Differences

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] International sanctions against North Korea's successive missile provocations have once again failed due to US-China conflicts.

The United Nations Security Council held a closed meeting on the 4th (local time) regarding North Korea's launch of the medium-range ballistic missile 'Hwasong-12' on the 30th of last month, but ended without producing any outcome.

Although North Korea carried out its highest-level provocation in over four years by launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), the UN Security Council's response ended in failure. This is the third Security Council meeting convened this year in response to North Korea's repeated missile launches, following meetings on the 10th and 20th of last month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The reason North Korea was not condemned in this Security Council meeting is pointed out to be due to the US-China conflict.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, along with ambassadors from eight countries including the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, jointly issued a critical statement immediately after the meeting condemning North Korea's medium-range ballistic missile launch as "the strongest terms against this illegal act."

She added, "The Security Council's continued silence will come at a high cost," expressing concern that "this will embolden North Korea to disregard Security Council resolutions and continue to threaten international peace and security."

This statement is interpreted as targeting China, which has sided with North Korea amid the missile launch rush.

In fact, China is responding to the US position. Zhang Jun, China's Ambassador to the UN, stated before the meeting, "If they (the US) want to find a new breakthrough, they must show sincerity as well as a more attractive, practical, and flexible approach," shifting responsibility to the US.

Due to this US-China conflict, joint Security Council responses to North Korea's provocations are becoming difficult. South Korea did not participate in the joint critical statement against North Korea, led by the US and co-issued by eight countries including the UK, France, and Japan.

Regarding this, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "The government’s stance is to respond comprehensively considering all circumstances, including the fact that a condemnation position has already been announced."

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