North ICBM, UN Condemnation Statement Sparks 'South Korea-US-Japan vs North Korea-China-Russia' Confrontation

North Korea conducted a test launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17' under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong-un the previous day, reported the Korean Central News Agency on the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The UN condemnation statement on North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch revealed a clear confrontation between South Korea, the US, and Japan on one side, and North Korea, China, and Russia on the other.

While the three countries of South Korea, the US, and Japan voiced a united condemnation of North Korea's ICBM, North Korea, China, and Russia still expressed opposition.

The UN Security Council discussed issuing a press statement condemning North Korea for its ICBM test launch on the afternoon of the 25th (local time), but no conclusion was reached.

It is reported that the plan to issue a press statement during the Security Council's closed meeting was blocked due to opposition from China and Russia.

Earlier, the Security Council held an open meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York to address North Korea and non-proliferation issues. The South Korean government attended this meeting directly as a concerned party.

Although South Korea is not a non-permanent member of the Security Council, under provisional rule 37 of the Council's procedural rules, a directly concerned party may attend discussions without voting rights.

South Korea also attended a related Security Council open meeting as a concerned party during North Korea's ICBM launch on November 29, 2017.

At this meeting, most Council members, including permanent members such as the US, the UK, and France, as well as Albania, Ireland, and Norway, pointed out that North Korea's ICBM launch was a clear violation of UN sanctions resolutions against North Korea.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, stated that North Korea's ICBM launch not only seriously violated Security Council resolutions but also posed a serious threat to the international community's non-proliferation efforts.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said, "The Security Council must speak with one voice to condemn North Korea's illegal actions and pressure North Korea to return to the negotiating table."

However, China and Russia opposed strengthening sanctions, arguing that the US also bears responsibility for North Korea's ICBM launch.

Jang Jun, the South Korean Ambassador to the UN in China, claimed that North Korea broke the moratorium declaration announced during the summit with the US because the US did not keep its promises.

Anna Evstigneva, Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the UN, also opposed strengthening sanctions, arguing that the lack of progress in denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea was the responsibility of both sides.

After the Council members finished their statements in the open meeting, the session was switched to closed, and the possibility of issuing a joint statement was discussed, but it failed to overcome opposition from China and Russia.

Western UN ambassadors, including those from South Korea, the US, and Japan, held a brief press conference after the meeting to condemn North Korea's ICBM launch and criticize the Security Council's silence on North Korea's violation of Security Council resolutions.

These ambassadors said, "We strongly condemn North Korea's ICBM launch in the strongest terms at this press conference," adding, "Despite repeated offers for dialogue from the US and other countries, North Korea has returned to testing long-range weapons instead of returning to talks. This undermines the global non-proliferation regime and international peace and security."

They continued, "While North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program, the Security Council remains silent," criticizing this and urging other countries to fully implement Security Council sanctions resolutions.

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