Involvement of US nuclear capability in exercises around DPRK affects Russia's interests

Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS

United Nations, 28 March /TASS/. The involvement of the US nuclear capability in military exercises around North Korea affects Russia's interests, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said during a Security Council meeting. He also pointed to the militarisation of the region with the direct involvement of Washington and other NATO member states "located tens of thousands of kilometres from North Korea"..

"Of particular concern is the increasingly apparent involvement of Washington's nuclear capability in allied manoeuvres. Such dangerous developments in the region affect Russia's fundamental national security interests," he said.

Nebenza pointed to the militarisation of the region with the direct involvement of Washington and other NATO member states "located tens of thousands of kilometres away from North Korea".

"In this context, it is clear that in recent years sanctions have not contributed to achieving the objectives set by the international community and have not led to the normalisation of the situation around the peninsula. This situation does not encourage dialogue, especially after Washington demonstrated an unfair game that the whole world saw," the Russian diplomat concluded.

On 28 March, Russia used its veto power to block a US draft resolution to extend the mandate of UN Security Council Sanctions Committee 1718, which monitors the implementation of sanctions against North Korea.

Resolution 1718 was adopted by the UN Security Council in response to North Korea's nuclear test. The sanctions prohibit the transport, sale or transfer of any military vehicles, weapons, materials, equipment, goods and technology that could be used in North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programmes. Subsequently, the Security Council adopted several other resolutions tightening sanctions against North Korea.

TASS/gnews.cz-JaV_07