South Korea calls on divided UN council ‘to break the silence’ on North Korea’s tests and threats
UNITED NATIONS — South Korea on Thursday called on the divided UN Security Council to “break the silence” over North Korea’s escalating missile tests and threats.
“It’s a big ask,” South Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Hwang Joonkook told reporters Sunday after a closed emergency council meeting on North Korea’s first ballistic missile test in 2024. South Korea is serving a two-year term in the council.
The Security Council imposed sanctions after North Korea’s first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and has tightened them over the years in a total of 10 resolutions that have so far unsuccessfully sought to cut funding and its nuclear and ballistic missile programs to curb.
The last sanction resolution was adopted by the council in 2017. China and Russia vetoed a US-backed resolution in May 2022 that would have imposed new sanctions over a wave of intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Since then, the two permanent council members have used a veto to block any action by the council, including statements in the media.
North Korea’s escalating test launches in violation of existing UN sanctions – five ICBMs, more than 25 ballistic missiles and three satellite launches using ballistic missile technology by 2023 – coupled with new threats from North Korean leader Kim Jong- un have increased regional tensions in their country. highest point in years.
On Monday, Kim declared that North Korea would abandon its commitment to peaceful unification with South Korea and ordered a rewrite of the constitution to eliminate the idea of a shared state between the war-divided countries. He said South Koreans were America’s “top-tier henchmen” obsessed with confrontation, and reiterated the threat that the North would destroy the South with its nuclear weapons if provoked.
Ahead of Thursday’s council meeting, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told reporters that Kim’s provocations “are of great importance.”
He said the 15 council members must be reminded that North Korea is in violation of sanctions and its obligations to the council, “and we must insist that they adhere to those obligations, and that all members of the Security Council implement these resolutions .”
In contrast, China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun, whose country is a close ally of North Korea, called on all parties on the Korean Peninsula to remain calm and refrain from actions that would further increase tensions.
In a message clearly aimed at the United States and South Korea, Zhang expressed hope that while the focus is on North Korea, “other countries are also responsible to prevent further escalation.”
French U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere told reporters that North Korea’s actions are “getting worse and worse,” with regular ballistic missile launches, continued uranium enrichment and progress in its nuclear program.
“Everyone is focused on missile launches, but I think the biggest threat is their nuclear program, which continues to grow,” De Riviere said.
And he called it “a shame” that Russia is violating Security Council resolutions by “buying military equipment that they use in Ukraine” from North Korea. “It’s really bad,” he said.
South Korean leader Hwang said all 15 council members are concerned that North Korea’s rhetoric and actions are “becoming increasingly serious.”
But how can we break the council’s silence and passivity?
“We will talk about it and think about it and how we can move forward,” he said. “It’s a big question.”
As for Kim’s abandonment of peaceful reunification, Hwang called it “a major change” in their rhetoric, actions and policies. “The nuclear policy is very, very alarming,” he said.