U.S. Ambassador Urges Russia and China to Reconsider Support for North Korea Amid Sanctions Debate 

During her visit to the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called on Russia and China to rethink their stance on North Korea's behavior, emphasizing the importance of not rewarding Pyongyang's actions and obstructing U.N. oversight of its efforts to evade sanctions related to its weapons programs.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield's visit to South Korea follows Russia's rejection of the annual renewal of a panel tasked with monitoring North Korea's compliance with U.N. sanctions targeting its nuclear and missile activities. Moscow's veto, accompanied by China's abstention, has drawn criticism for enabling North Korea to circumvent international sanctions and evade accountability.

Speaking to reporters at the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea, Thomas-Greenfield asserted that concealing the truth about North Korea's actions does not alter reality and that rewarding negative behavior only emboldens it further. She urged Russia and China to reconsider their approach and encourage Pyongyang to engage in diplomatic negotiations to resolve outstanding issues.

Thomas-Greenfield underscored Washington's commitment to collaborating with regional partners, including South Korea and Japan, to explore innovative strategies for monitoring sanctions enforcement and other related activities in the absence of the multinational panel.

Later in Seoul, the ambassador met with a group of young North Korean defectors, praising their bravery in escaping to South Korea and reaffirming her dedication to highlighting human rights abuses in North Korea. She emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of defectors and shedding light on the human rights situation in the reclusive state.

During her visit to Japan, Thomas-Greenfield is expected to engage with family members of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the early 2000s and visit Nagasaki, a city devastated by a U.S. nuclear bomb in 1945. The ambassador's discussions in both South Korea and Japan underscore the shared commitment of these U.S. allies to addressing the challenges posed by North Korea's weapons programs and promoting human rights in the region.

Thomas-Greenfield's diplomatic efforts aim to foster international cooperation and diplomatic engagement to address the complex issues surrounding North Korea's actions and enhance regional stability and security.