The Russian Federation vetoed a United Nations resolution that proposed extending the monitoring of sanctions against the DPRK by UN experts.
How reports Associated Press, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, 13 out of 15 countries voted “for” the adoption of the document, Russia “against”, China abstained.
The resolution was sponsored by the United States and was intended to extend the mandate of the UN Group of Experts on Nuclear Weapons for a year, but a veto would stop their work and effectively cancel the organization’s monitoring. The mandate expires on April 30.
How tells Euronews, citing the words of the Russian representative at the UN, international sanctions against Pyongyang are losing their relevance and are divorced from reality. Previously, Russia has never blocked the work of a group of experts or spoken out against North Korea’s nuclear program. Britain, Ukraine, the United States and others say the veto highlights arms trade between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Closing monitoring does not mean the lifting of sanctions, but it will deprive the UN of the ability to receive updates and information on North Korea's sanctions activities.
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