US calls on UN Security Council to condemn North Korea. Russia apparently wants to annex Belarus

The US has asked the UN Security Council to condemn North Korea’s recent missile tests.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday (local time) in New York that the United States would submit a presidential statement to that effect. “We call on all members of this council to join us in strongly condemning the illegal activities of the North Korean government and to encourage the North Korean government to engage in diplomacy.”

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan (Korean: Baltic Sea) on Monday night. The internationally largely isolated country had already launched a long-range missile on Saturday. Japan had therefore requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. In the most powerful UN body, the US failed in May with a resolution for stricter international sanctions against Pyongyang. Russia and China vetoed the vote in New York.

UN decrees prohibit North Korea from testing ballistic missiles that – depending on the design – can also carry a nuclear warhead. The country is subject to international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea’s continued violations of UN Security Council resolutions required a response. “We are charged with maintaining international peace and security.” But two permanent members have forced the body to remain silent despite North Korea’s myriad violations. “I call on the council to condemn these ballistic missile launches.”

She called the council’s inaction shameful and dangerous. “Now is the time for the Security Council to work together for a peaceful solution for the Korean Peninsula before it is too late.”

The conflict had become considerably more explosive since last year. The Communist-ruled country increased the scope and pace of its missile tests. South Korea and the US are fully resuming their maneuvers. North Korea regularly accuses Washington of preparing an attack through its exercises in South Korea. This is denied by Seoul and Washington. (sda/dpa)