'ICBM Response' Security Council Sanctions Fail Again... North Korea Aims for 'Nuclear Possession Legitimacy'

Discussion on Test Launch Issues of New Solid-Fuel ICBM
North Korea, Knowing 'No Response Possible', Opposes... "Justification and Rationale"
Additional Provocations Expected This Month Including Reconnaissance Satellite Launch

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), convened to discuss North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch issue, ended once again empty-handed. There are concerns that the UNSC's inaction could provide North Korea with a pretext to assert the legitimacy of its nuclear possession in the international community.

On the 17th (local time), the UN Security Council held an open meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss North Korea's ICBM launch issue but concluded the meeting without any results. This meeting was convened at the request of South Korea, the United States, Japan, and others immediately after North Korea's first launch of the new solid-fuel ICBM 'Hwasong-18' on the 13th.

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun is speaking at the United Nations Security Council meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 17th (local time).
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Ambassador Hwang Jun-guk to the UN repeatedly emphasized toward China and Russia that "the five nuclear-weapon states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime, who are also permanent members of the Security Council, must bear even greater special responsibilities," but China and Russia defended North Korea. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun blamed the United States for North Korea's provocations, saying, "The deployment of strategic assets by the U.S. near the Korean Peninsula has made North Korea uneasy."

In principle, the ICBM launch should prompt the Security Council to pursue a new 'sanctions resolution.' Typically, Security Council members hold meetings to discuss response directions. However, since last year, China and Russia, as permanent members, have openly abused their veto power, making Security Council-level responses virtually impossible.

In fact, this year, the Security Council has convened three times due to North Korea's ICBM launches, but all ended empty-handed.North Korea has been test-launching ICBMs monthly since February this year, and each time, the Security Council has held meetings. However, not only has it failed to put additional sanctions resolutions to a vote, but it has also been unable to adopt even a toned-down presidential statement.

North Korea strongly opposes every time the UN Security Council convenes. Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and considered the second highest-ranking military official, stated in a position paper the day before, "Our development of new strategic weapons is a legitimate measure to strengthen self-defense power to protect the future of our people." He also criticized the Security Council, calling it "blatant disregard and clear acts of interference in internal affairs."

There is also analysis that North Korea's strong opposition is a strategic move to gain recognition of the legitimacy of its nuclear possession in the international community. Recently, North Korea has publicly revealed tactical nuclear warheads and showcased various delivery systems and new strategic weapons claimed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, promoting its self-proclaimed status as a 'nuclear-armed state.' Consistently, it asserts its provocations as 'self-defensive measures.' Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies analyzed, "North Korea is very sensitive to the Security Council despite knowing that the UNSC cannot pass additional sanctions resolutions due to China and Russia's non-cooperation. The fact that they consistently raise issues even though the Security Council poses no threat indicates an intention to assert the legitimacy of nuclear development and gain recognition of nuclear possession status in the international community."

Meanwhile, North Korea test-launched the solid-fuel ICBM 'Hwasong-18' for the first time on the 13th. At the site, Chairman Kim Jong-un watched the launch process and said, "We will make the enemies suffer extreme anxiety and fear." Additionally, North Korea has announced plans to launch a military reconnaissance satellite this month and is expected to continue nuclear threats against South Korea, including additional launches to improve the completeness of the 'Hwasong-18.'

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