US 'disappointed' by Russia's veto of UN Security Council resolution on North Korean sanction monitor

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is "deeply disappointed" by Russia's veto Thursday of a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution to extend the mandate of a panel responsible for monitoring and reporting on sanctions imposed on North Korea.

"Russia's actions today have cynically undermined international peace and security, all to advance the corrupt bargain that Moscow has struck with the DPRK (North Korea)," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. "Moscow appears to be intent on facilitating the DPRK's, illegal pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and its veto today was a self-interested effort to bury the panel's reporting on its own collusion with the DPRK to secure weapons that it can use to further its aggression against Ukraine.”

Miller said the US is also disappointed that China decided to abstain after 14 years of supporting the mandate.

The draft resolution, spearheaded by the US, called for the extension of the North Korea Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts mandate for another year to monitor and report on the country’s nuclear program.

The resolution garnered significant support in the Council, with 13 of its 15 member states voting in favor, Russia, as a permanent Council member, voted against it, effectively knocking down the resolution. China abstained.

North Korea has been under a sweeping UN arms embargo since 2006. The sanctions have since been repeatedly tightened to include the import and export of nearly all types of weapons.

The UN North Korea Sanctions Committee was established in 2006 to monitor the implementation of the sanctions in question. The Panel of Experts linked to the Committee was tasked with preparing reports on developments.

The mandate of the panel has been extended annually.