U.S. seeks U.N. Security Council adoption of statement on North Korea
The United States has shared a draft document with the U.N. Security Council for possible adoption as a presidential statement criticizing North Korea over its test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last month.
The draft statement was proposed as part of efforts to step up diplomatic pressure on North Korea. Prior to adoption, council members would need to arrive at a final draft of the statement that meets unanimous approval, including from veto-wielding China and Russia which generally support Pyongyang.
According to the draft, the Security Council “condemns in the strongest terms” the ICBM launch on Nov. 18 in violation of multiple resolutions adopted by the council in the past.
The draft statement also urges North Korea “to refrain from conducting a nuclear test or further ballistic missile launches.”
Unlike Security Council resolutions, its presidential statements are nonbinding.
Due mainly to reluctance from Beijing and Moscow, the Security Council has failed to take united action such as authorizing further economic sanctions against North Korea, which has test-fired ballistic missiles at an unprecedented pace this year.
The draft statement says the council urges “all relevant participants to intensify their efforts for a return to meaningful talks.”
The Security Council adopted a presidential statement in August 2017 condemning North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan.