The US government has repeatedly condemned North Korea’s recent ICBM launch. He urged China and Russia, permanent members of the Security Council, to abide by the North Korea resolution, emphasizing that North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile issues are issues that transcend those of neighboring countries. Reporter Ham Ji-ha reports.
State Department spokesman Ned Price strongly condemned North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch and criticized China and Russia, which are permanent members of the UN Security Council, for not doing their job.
In a regular briefing on the 22nd, Spokesperson Price responded to a request for comment on the UN Security Council’s failure to issue a statement condemning North Korea’s ICBM launch due to opposition from China and Russia. “We condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile launch,” he replied.
[녹취: 프라이스 대변인] “Well, let me make very clear what our position is on the most recent provocations, the most recent dangerous provocations that we’ve seen from the DPRK. We condemn the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches. And we are preparing for all contingencies with our allies and partners in the aftermath of the latest ICBM launch. These launches, alongside the DPRK’s February 18th ICBM test are in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. They pose a threat to the DPRK’s neighbors and the international community as well.”
“We are preparing for all contingencies with our allies and partners in the aftermath of North Korea’s recent ICBM launch,” he said.
“North Korea’s launches, including the ICBM test launch on February 18, are in violation of several UN Security Council resolutions,” he added. “They pose a threat to North Korea’s neighbors as well as the international community.”
“We are committed to a diplomatic approach to North Korea, and we continue to urge North Korea to engage in constructive dialogue,” Price said.
[녹취: 프라이스 대변인] “We remain committed to a diplomatic approach to the DPRK and we call on the DPRK as we consistently have to engage in constructive dialogue. Our commitment, at the same time, to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan, that remains ironclad and we continue to seek serious and sustained dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions, but as you know the DPRK refuses to engage.”
“At the same time, our promises to South Korea and Japan remain ironclad,” he said. “We continue to seek sincere and sustained dialogue with North Korea without preconditions, but as you know, North Korea is refusing to get involved.”
Spokesperson Price said, “There are other countries that are not acting responsibly,” targeting China and Russia along with North Korea.
[녹취: 프라이스 대변인] “There are other countries who are not acting responsibly. Of course, the DPRK would be at the top of that list and you see the provocations that they’ve undertaken in recent days. But we’ve made no secret of the fact that permanent members of the UN Security Council, all member states of course but especially permanent members of the UN Security Council, have a special obligation to fully implement the resolutions that have emanated from the UN Security Council itself. These are countries that have themselves raised their hands, voted for each resolution that has passed from the Security Council chamber, and it’s therefore incumbent on these countries to uphold these resolutions and in turn to hold the DPRK accountable for its flagrant violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
“Of course, North Korea is at the top of the list, and you can see the recent provocations they have taken,” said Price. ” he pointed out.
“These countries have raised their hands in the Security Council chambers to vote and pass their respective resolutions,” he said. There is,” he pointed out.
“These are issues that are regularly discussed when engaging with China,” Price said. It does,” he said.
[녹취: 프라이스 대변인] “In our engagement with the PRC for example, this is a regular point of discussion. The DPRK’s ballistic missile program, its nuclear program: it is not only a threat to the United States and our people, it’s not only a threat to our treaty allies Japan and the ROK in this case, but it is a threat to peace and security across the region. And that is not something that the PRC likes to see. It is not something that the PRC should seek to encourage. And we would like to see all countries including the permanent five, Russia and China in this case, again not ignore but uphold the resolutions that they themselves have passed.”
“This is not something China wants to see or encourage,” he added.
Meanwhile, at the regular briefing, Beth Van Schack, special envoy for global criminal justice at the U.S. Department of State, attended the briefing and took questions from reporters.
When asked if he thought Kim Jong-un should be brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC), special envoy Ban Shaq said, “I remember that in 2014, the Security Council considered whether to refer the North Korean issue to the ICC.” I know it was stopped by.”
[녹취: 반 샤크 특사] “Well there was an effort, if I’m remembering correctly back in 2014, to consider whether or not the Security Council would refer the matter of North Korea to the ICC. And as I recall that effort was blocked by some permanent members of the Security Council. So absent North Korea referring itself, which of course would not happen, the only way to assert jurisdiction would really be through the Security Council.”
He explained, “Of course, since North Korea itself will not refer itself (to the ICC), the only way to claim judicial power is through the Security Council.”
This is VOA News Hamjiha.
