US seeks new ways to enforce sanctions against North Korea

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (Getty Images)

The United States and their allies are exploring new ways to ensure compliance with sanctions against North Korea amid fears in Washington that Pyongyang may now be emboldened in advancing its weapons program, according to thw US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Last month, Russia vetoed the annual extension of the mandate of a group of experts who have been monitoring the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea for 15 years, related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States is working on alternative options for reporting sanctions in cooperation with allies.

North Korea claims that its missile and nuclear programs are intended to defend against external threats, such as the United States and South Korea. It condemns sanctions as an infringement on its sovereignty.

At a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, the American diplomat stated her support for South Korea’s efforts to restrain North Korean programs and promote rights in the reclusive state.

Backstory

On March 28, during a vote at the UN Security Council, consisting of 15 members, 13 countries voted in favor of a resolution on UN experts monitoring sanctions against North Korea, but Russia objected, and China abstained.

Thus, Russia effectively blocked UN sanctions monitoring against North Korea.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution on extending monitoring of sanctions against the DPRK, including an arms embargo, indicates that Moscow is no longer hiding the use of North Korean weapons in the war against Ukraine.