Russia vetoes UN oversight of North Korean sanctions

(Patria) - Russia on Thursday blocked the renewal of a UN panel of experts monitoring international sanctions against North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang, AFP reported.

The move drew criticism from South Korea's Foreign Ministry, which said Russia made an "irresponsible decision" despite its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The United States called Moscow's veto an "act of self-serving effort to bury a commission's report about its own complicity" with North Korea.

"Russia's actions today cynically undermined international peace and security in order to advance a corrupt bargain that Moscow struck with the DPRK," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, referring to the Asian country by its official name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba took to social media, calling the veto an "admission of guilt," amid allegations that Pyongyang is aiding Moscow in its war against Kyiv.

Moscow's veto in the Security Council does not remove sanctions on North Korea, but it marks the end of the group monitoring their implementation. The commission's mandate expires at the end of April. North Korea has been under increasing sanctions since 2006, imposed by the UN Security Council in response to its nuclear program. Since 2019, Russia and China have been trying to persuade the Security Council to ease the sanctions, which have no expiration date.

The Council has long been divided on the issue, with China's Deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang asserting on Thursday that sanctions have "exacerbated tensions and confrontation with serious negative impacts on the humanitarian situation." China abstained rather than joining Russia in the veto. All other members voted to renew the panel of experts.

In August, Russia used its veto to end the mandate of a UN group of experts on Mali who had accused Wagner mercenaries of being involved in widespread abuses.