▲ U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield is seen speaking during a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Aug. 25, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)

UNSC-NK satellite launch

U.S. calls for UNSC action against N. Korean satellite launch, says China, Russia's opposition is 'troubling'

By Byun Duk-kun

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- The United States' envoy to the United Nations called on the U.N. Security Council to condemn North Korea's recent failed satellite launch on Friday, while insisting that China and Russia's refusal to hold North Korea accountable for its actions is encouraging the recalcitrant country to continue making provocations.

The U.S. envoy. Thomas Linda-Greenfield, said China and Russia's refusal to condemn North Korean provocations is "troubling."

"I urge every council member every single member of this council to condemn this launch and discourage the DPRK from conducting another test," the U.S. diplomat told a UNSC meeting in New York.

The emergency meeting comes after North Korea made its second failed attempt to launch what it claims would have been its first military reconnaissance satellite on Thursday (Korea time).

"This should be an issue that unifies us. We have all reaffirmed our commitment to the global non-proliferation regime time and time again. But since the beginning of 2022, this council has failed to live up to its commitments because of China and Russia's obstructionism," Thomas-Greenfield said.

More than a dozen UNSC meetings have been held since the start of last year to discuss North Korean provocations, including an unprecedented 69 ballistic missile tests in 2022. China and Russia, both close neighbors of North Korea, have vetoed all proposed actions against North Korea in those meetings.

"This is a relatively new phenomenon here and an increasingly troubling one, I have to say," said Thomas-Greenfield, noting that both China and Russia had voted in favor of UNSC resolutions on North Korea in 2017.

"Russia and China are not living up to their responsibility to maintain international peace and security. Instead, they are celebrating, celebrating violations of Security Council resolutions and continuing to block council action," she added.

The U.S. ambassador stressed a need for the UNSC to take "unequivocal" action.

"We must unequivocally and denounce the DPRK's unlawful behavior. We must call on the DPRK to fully and faithfully implement all relevant Security Council resolutions and we must address the DPRK global revenue generating activities, which fund its unlawful weapons program," she said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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