Diplomatic tensions escalate as UN monitors North Korea-Russia sanction breaches

On Thursday, the UN panel of experts concluded its observations of North Korea and the sanctions imposed on it in connection with its nuclear program. All because of Russia's veto, which accuses the panel of "reprinting biased information and analyzing newspaper headlines and poor quality photos."

The above-mentioned veto took place on Thursday during the vote on the UN Security Council resolution, which extended North Korea's sanctions monitoring for another year. The observations were intended to monitor Korea's nuclear tests and the development of its nuclear program, which could pose a severe threat.

According to the Associated Press, Russia has never before tried to terminate the expert panel's work. After Thursday's precedent, Western countries suspect the Russians are protecting themselves by vetoing the extension of observations. They are allegedly violating Korea's sanctions by purchasing weapons from it to use in the brutal war against Ukraine.

After Russia's opposition, many representatives of other countries took the floor, criticizing Russia's attitude. The US Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood called this decision an attempt "to silence the independent objective investigations into DPRK Security Council violations," as the official UN website quoted him.

Sources: Associated Press, United Nations