The North Korea crisis

Expert: Difficult to retain sanctions after the veto

It will be difficult to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea after Russia vetoed the annual renewal of an expert panel that reviews the sanctions. This is what Aaron Arnold, a former member of the expert panel, told Reuters.

For 15 years, the panel has reviewed compliance with the sanctions against North Korea's robotics and nuclear weapons programs. In recent years, their work has become increasingly difficult to carry out, which those who support the work explain by Russia and China blocking the publication of certain information.

- If you talk about violations of the sanctions and do not mention China, it is not a fair picture of what is actually happening, says a former expert on the panel who asked to remain anonymous.

According to the United States, South Korea and independent analysts, Russia buys quantities of weapons and ammunition from North Korea that are then used in the war in Ukraine.

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Anger at Russian UN veto - accused of wanting to hide cooperation with North Korea

The group of UN experts that monitors the sanctions against North Korea is denied a renewed mandate after Russia vetoed it in the UN Security Council, several media write.

Russia was the only country that voted against the renewal and the decision arouses reactions from, among others, the United States and Great Britain, who believe that Russia's purpose is to hide the Kremlin's military ties with Pyongyang.

British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward says, according to The Guardian, that Russia shows no concern for the North Korean population.

- It is about Russia being able to avoid and violate sanctions in the hunt for weapons to use against Ukraine.

Russia's ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he was willing to extend the mandate if the sanctions were time-bound, writes the Wall Street Journal.