February 8, 2022
2 mins read

US govt tells North Korea to focus on people, not missiles

Korea’s formal name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes….reports Asian Lite News

The United States called on North Korea on Monday to defund its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and prioritise the needs of its own people, as Russia and China blamed sanctions for worsening the humanitarian situation in the hermit Asian state.

Russia put sanctions under the spotlight at the U.N. Security Council as part of its presidency of the 15-member body during February. However, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia could not chair the meeting because he tested positive for COVID-19, diplomats said.

“We call on DPRK to demonstrate a commitment to the wellbeing of its own people by respecting human rights, defunding its unlawful WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missiles programme, and prioritising the needs of its own people – the vulnerable North Koreans,” said the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

North Korea’s formal name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In November, Russia and China revived a 2019 push to ease U.N. sanctions on North Korea in what they described as a bid to improve the humanitarian situation. The move found little support or engagement among council members, so China and Russia have not put it to a vote.

“If the council were to think of ordinary Koreans and not merely geopolitics then this proposal warrants support,” Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council. “We believe firmly that the Security Council sanctions apparatus requires a strong dose of humanization.”

North Korea’s humanitarian situation “continues to worsen,” according to an excerpt of a confidential U.N. report seen on Saturday by Reuters. The report said that was probably mainly due to Pyongyang’s COVID-19 blockade.

Russia and China also both used the council meeting on Monday to blast unilateral sanctions, without naming names. China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said of such countries: “They have been flinging them about left, right, and center in a frenzy, so much so that they seem to be addicted.”

Thomas-Greenfield said she was concerned by attempts “to criticize and delegitimize” unilateral sanctions as unlawful and that the United States categorically rejects that position.

ALSO READ: White House may cost Democrats US Congress

Previous Story

US firm wins NASA contract to bring Mars samples to Earth

Next Story

US Air Force ordered to pay $230mn to victims of Texas shooting

Latest from -Top News

Taiwan Mulls Chip Curbs on South Africa

Although Taiwan is not a major chip supplier to South Africa, it plays a dominant role in global semiconductor production, and even limited restrictions may serve as a diplomatic warning. Taiwan’s Ministry

Bangladesh, US Begin Tariff Talks Round 3

Bangladesh has already signed a deal to purchase 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the US. The third round of Bangladesh-US talks on tariff issues officially began at 2:00 pm (US local

Tyrants Call The Shots in Bangladesh

The carnage at Gopalganj shows Bangladesh’s post-Hasina descent into fear …writes Monir Islam Exactly one year ago, on July 16, 2024, six young lives were lost in Bangladesh during a police crackdown

Pakistan’s vanishing heritage

Historic buildings crumble amid builder mafia’s relentless pursuit … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem Pakistan’s architectural and cultural legacy is facing an unprecedented crisis. Across major cities and small towns alike, historic buildings—many
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Canada confirms first cases of Omicron variant

According to the World Health Organization, the variant was reported

Event held in honour of Indian Army veterans in US

India has been designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ by