The US, Britain, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway called for the Security Council to meet on Friday after North Korea, officially known as the DPRK, launched several missiles, including a possible failed intercontinental ballistic missile. “You cannot abdicate your Security Council responsibilities because the DPRK can sell you weapons to fuel your war of aggression in Ukraine or because you think they are a good regional security buffer for the United States,” the US ambassador to the UN. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the council, referring to Russia and China. Russia and China are unlikely to agree to any Council action on North Korea’s latest missile launches, diplomats said. Representatives of China and Russia have accused the US of stoking tensions by holding large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea. China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said that instead of playing up tensions, the US should create conditions for the resumption of meaningful dialogue with North Korea. “The council should play a constructive role instead of always emphasizing pressure,” Zhang said. “Under the current circumstances, the council should especially try to moderate the confrontation, ease tensions and promote political settlement.” In a joint statement to reporters after the meeting, the 10 elected members of the Security Council condemned North Korea’s missile launches and called on the body to “speak with one voice on this issue.” Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, condemned North Korea’s missile launches earlier on Friday and urged Pyongyang to “immediately cease any further provocative actions” and take immediate steps to resume talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. . North Korea has long been banned from nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by the Security Council, which has stepped up sanctions on the country over the years in an effort to cut off funding for the programs. Subscribe to The Guardian Headlines US For US readers, we offer a regional version of our daily email, delivering the most important headlines each morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. But in recent years, the 15-member body has been divided over how to deal with the hermit Asian state. In May, China and Russia vetoed a US-led push for more sanctions on North Korea over its renewed launches. “The Security Council must do everything it can to prevent an escalation,” UN political affairs assistant Mohamed Khaled Khiari told the council on Friday, without elaborating. China and Russia are instead pushing for an easing of sanctions on North Korea on humanitarian grounds – in the hope of persuading Pyongyang to return to negotiations.
