NEW YORK, MAY 26 (ANSA) – During the UN Security Council on Thursday, May 26, China and Russia vetoed a US-led project to impose new sanctions on North Korea after recent ballistic missile launches.
The proposal is designed to “further limit Pyongyang’s ability to run its illicit weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, simplify the enforcement of sanctions, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.”
In addition, the plan would reduce the annual amount of oil imported by the country from 3 million to just 1 million barrels, while the export of mineral origin products would be banned.
The text received 13 votes in favour, including Brazil, which held a non-permanent seat in the Council but was blocked by China and Russia, which have veto power because they are permanent members.
In recent days, North Korea has fired three more ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, just hours after US President Joe Biden completed his trip to Asia.
“North Korea has launched three ballistic missiles in recent days and is a threat to the peace and security of the entire international community,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN.
“It is undeniable that Pyongyang continues its ballistic missile program in violation of numerous UN resolutions, and we cannot allow it to normalize this illegal and destabilizing behavior. We cannot make this the new norm, we cannot allow this dangerous behavior,” the US diplomat said. . . .
But Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the UN, said that “continuing the path of sanctions does not help solve the problems”. “The aim is to promote dialogue and negotiation,” the Beijing representative said.
For Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, “the tightening of sanctions is a dead end that produces inhuman and ineffective pressure against Pyongyang”.
“The United States and its allies seem to have no other solution to the crisis than to impose sanctions,” the Moscow diplomat said.
Negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have stalled since February 2019, when then-US President Donald Trump abruptly abandoned his summit with Kim Jong-un in Vietnam. (ANSA)
See more news, photos and videos at www.ansabrasil.com.br.
source: Noticias
