The sanctions, which have been in effect since 2006, will continue to be enforced, but the mandate of the UN panel overseeing North Korea’s compliance with international sanctions will expire on April 30. Russia has blocked the renewal of the panel, following allegations from the US, South Korea, and others that North Korea is providing weapons to Russia for use in the conflict in Ukraine.
The panel, which monitors compliance with sanctions imposed on North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs nearly two decades ago, recently reported investigating reports of arms transfers. South Korea’s UN ambassador criticized Russia’s veto as an attempt to avoid being caught in wrongdoing, while Ukraine’s Foreign Minister described it as a “guilty plea.” China abstained from the vote, while the remaining UN Security Council members voted in favor.
The US State Department condemned Russia’s actions, accusing them of undermining international peace and security by supporting North Korea. Russia and China pushed unsuccessfully for the sanctions regime to be renewed annually during negotiations. Russia’s UN ambassador criticized the panel for bias and incompetence in assessing the sanctions regime’s status.
The panel’s latest report revealed North Korea’s ongoing violations of sanctions, including missile launches and cyberattacks. The US deputy UN ambassador praised the panel’s essential work and accused Russia of attempting to silence objective investigations. Despite the sanctions, North Korea continues to develop new weapons, including hypersonic missiles.
The US and South Korea launched a task force to prevent North Korea from illegally procuring oil, as the country is limited in its oil imports under UN sanctions. Britain’s UN ambassador reaffirmed the commitment to holding North Korea accountable for its compliance, despite Russia’s efforts to hinder the panel’s work. Russia had previously used its veto to end the mandate of a group of UN experts on Mali.