Russia blocks UN mechanism to monitor sanctions against North Korea

At a meeting of the UN Security Council on 28 March, Russia vetoed a resolution extending the mandate of the group of experts responsible for monitoring sanctions against North Korea.

This was reported by the AP.

The UN Security Council resolution on North Korea prepared by the United States was supported by 13 members of the body. China abstained from voting, which would not have affected its adoption if Russia had not vetoed it.

The resolution concerned the mandate of the DPRK Sanctions Committee under the Security Council, which had been in place since 2006, the same year Pyongyang was sanctioned for its first nuclear weapons test. It was responsible for monitoring the relevant restrictions.

Before the vote, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that Western countries were trying to "strangle" North Korea and that sanctions were "irrelevant" and "detached from reality" in curbing its nuclear program.

The Security Council's decision does not affect the validity of the sanctions against the DPRK.

Author - Olena Madiak, 28/03/2024