On Thursday, this month China and Russia delayed a US bid to impose UN sanctions on five North Koreans. The move by the US came after they have been testing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles recently. The recent test which was on Monday this week has been the fourth time in 2022 that North Korea has tested its weapons outing major stress on the neighbour and the US about the safety of the countries not only regionally but globally as well. The US has already put some major sanctions on the country. It has blacklisted six North Koreans, one Russian and a Russian firm whom they have accused of procuring goods for the programmes from Russia and China. According to a report by the UN, in the first half of 2021, North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes which is a violation of UN sanctions, despite the country’s worsening economic situation.
Since 2006, North Korea has been subjected to the UN sanctions, the same has been strengthened by the Security Council over the years to target funding for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The Biden administration since taking over the office in January 2021 has been trying to talk to North Korea about the situation but has been unsuccessful. The Chinese authorities as well Russian authorities have asked for more shreds of evidence to put these sanctions into place. The move by both the countries came before a closed-door UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.
In an official joint statement by the United Nation, it was stated that “These launches demonstrate the regime’s determination to pursue weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes at all costs, including at the expense of its people,” seven council members – the United States, Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Britain – and Japan”.
