Russia says it vetoed extension of panel monitoring North Korea sanctions due to disregard of its proposals

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia said on Friday that it vetoed the extension of the mandate for experts on North Korea sanctions due to the neglect of its proposals.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement emphasized the inefficiency of the measures over the years and the need for a change in approach to issues of the Korean Peninsula.

"International sanctions have failed to improve the security situation in the region, rather, without mechanisms for reviewing and mitigating these measures, they remain a significant obstacle to confidence-building and political dialogue," the ministry said.

Highlighting severe humanitarian consequences of UN sanctions on the civilian population of North Korea, compounded by "illegal unilateral coercive measures," the ministry pointed out a new round of regional escalation prompted by heightened US and allied military activities, perceived by Pyongyang as a threat to its security.

It criticized the UN Security Council Committee 1718's loss of objectivity and impartiality, transforming into "an obedient tool of the DPRK's geopolitical opponents," noting its disinterest in maintaining the current form of the experts' group.

Despite efforts to find compromise, including proposing time limits for restrictive measures, the ministry lamented the refusal of the US and its allies to engage in peaceful settlement efforts, prioritizing "coercive measures over dialogue."

"Such a system, which allows for flexible response to current trends in peace and security issues, works in most UN Security Council sanctions regimes. ... However ... the US and its allies clearly demonstrated that their interest does not extend beyond the task of "strangling" the DPRK by all available means, and a peaceful settlement is not on the agenda at all," it stressed.

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to international obligations and called for de-escalation and dialogue to address security concerns.

In a separate statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia vetoed the relevant resolution because of disagreement with its content.

Russia on Thursday blocked a US-sponsored draft resolution to extend the mandate of the group of experts of the Security Council committee on sanctions against the DPRK until April 30, 2025. Thirteen of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor. China abstained.

Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the UN, explained that Moscow was ready to extend the mandate of the group if the draft contained a proposal to conduct a "comprehensive review of sanctions" against the DPRK in a year.

The mandate of the group of experts of the UN Security Council Committee 1718 on sanctions against the DPRK ends on April 30, 2024.