Following the latest intercontinental ballistic missile test from the People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the top UN political affairs official told the Security Council that “tensions continue to increase” in the Korean Peninsula and “with no off ramps insight.”
Briefing the Council on Monday (21 Nov), Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, informed that “the missile reportedly flew a distance of 1,000 km and to an altitude of approximately 6,100km” and “it is reportedly the first successful test of the DPRK’s largest and most powerful missile, capable of reaching all of North America.”
DiCarlo said that “the DPRK’s continued pursuit of its nuclear weapons programme and launches of ballistic missiles blatantly violates relevant Security Council resolutions and have led to a significant escalation of tensions.”
The Under-Secretary-General reiterated the calls on the DPRK “to desist from taking further provocative actions and to fully comply with its international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions.”
She also informed that “the DPRK appears to be actively pursuing its nuclear programme”, noting that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on 16 November that the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site “remains prepared to support a nuclear test”.
In addition, DiCarlo said, “the COVID-19 pandemic is complicating diplomacy by impeding official and unofficial contacts with the DPRK.”
According to the UN official, “it is critical to de-escalate and reduce tensions” and “communication channels must be enhanced, particularly military to military, to lower the risk of miscalculation.”
Zhang Jun, the Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that “rising interest in the Korean peninsula serves no parties’ interests and it’s not something China wants to see.”
Jun noted that “the world today is full of uncertainties and the Peninsula cannot afford the danger of further deterioration of the situation.”
For China, the ambassador said, “parties must focus on the peace and stability of the peninsula and Southeast Asia at large and take practical measures and play a positive role for a political settlement into the issue.”
From the Republic of Korea, Permanent Representative Joonkook Hwang said “the DPRK is fully taking advantage of the Council’s inaction and divisions to build up its nuclear arsenal.”
According to Hwang, “since the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution because of the opposition by two permanent members in May, the DPRK has launched 40 ballistic missiles, and promulgated its new law on nuclear weapons policy in September, which set the threshold for using nuclear weapons far lower than any other country.”
The Permanent Representative also said that “the DPRK has become increasingly aggressive and dangerous” and “it now stands on the verge of its seventh nuclear test. “
Ishikane Kimihiro, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations of Japan, said his country “urges North Korea to immediately and fully comply with all relevant resolutions and to engage in diplomacy toward denuclearization and accept the repeated offers of dialogue.”
According to Kimihiro, Japan “also urges all Member States to fully implement relevant resolutions and cooperate with the 1718 Committee” and “reiterates its sincere and strong expectation that the Council will fulfill its responsibility by taking a resolute action.”
Following the Security Council meeting, ambassadors from Albania, Ecuador, France, Ireland, India Japan, Malta, Norway, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States made a statement at the stakeout.
The message was read by ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, from the United States, who noted that “this was DPRK’s eighth intercontinental ballistic missile launch this year.”
Thomas-Greenfield said that “compared with the total number of intercontinental ballistic missile launches prior to 2022, this represents a serious escalation and poses an unequivocal threat to international peace and security.”
Appealing to action from Council Members, the Permanent Representative said that “the DPRK is acting with impunity in the face of the Security Council’s inaction.”
