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The United States accused China and Russia on Wednesday of enabling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by protecting Pyongyang from attempts to strengthen U.N. Security Council sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
“The DPRK (North Korea) has enjoyed blanket protection from two members of this council,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said. “In short, two permanent members of the Security Council have enabled Kim Jong Un.”
The 15-member council met on Wednesday on North Korea after nuclear-armed North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Tuesday that soared over Japan for the first time in five years and prompting a warning for residents there to take cover.
China and Russia did not want a public council meeting, arguing that it would not be conducive to easing the situation.
After the meeting on Wednesday, nine Security Council members – the United States, Britain, France, Albania, Brazil, India, Ireland, Norway and United Arab Emirates – condemned North Korea’s missile launch in a joint statement.
