UNITED NATIONS: The key to solving the issue of North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs is in the United States' hands, China's U.N. envoy said on Friday, urging Washington to show "more sincerity and flexibility" if it wants a breakthrough.
"They should come up with more attractive and more practical, more flexible approaches, policies and actions in accommodating concerns" of North Korea, Ambassador Zhang Jun told reporters. "The key in solving this issue is already in the hands of the United States.
He spoke ahead of a closed U.N. Security Council meeting, which was requested by the United States to discuss North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile last Sunday.
After the meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters: "We have to keep up the pressure."
She also read a joint statement by more than half the U.N. Security Council condemning North Korea's latest missile launch and warning that continued silence by the 15-member body would only embolden Pyongyang.
The eight council members - the United States, Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Arab Emirates and Britain - and Japan described Sunday's launch as a "significant escalation" that "seeks to further destabilize the region."
They said North Korea had carried out nine ballistic missiles launches in January, describing it as the largest number in a single month in the history of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
TESTS BANNED
Nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by North Korea are banned by the U.N. Security Council. Diplomats said the United States has proposed the council issue a statement.
"We call on all council members to speak with one voice in condemning these dangerous and unlawful acts," the eight council members and Japan said in the statement. "The cost of the council's ongoing silence is too high. It will embolden the DPRK to further defy the international community."
Zhang said the council should only issue a statement if it is "helpful for the de-escalation of the tensions." Such statements by the council have to be agreed by consensus.
North Korea confirmed on Monday it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon it had once threatened to target the U.S. territory of Guam with, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing.
It was the first time North Korea had tested a nuclear-capable missile of that size since 2017.
Pyongyang had put nuclear weapons tests and long-range ballistic missile launches on hold while leader Kim Jong Un met with then-U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in 2018 and Vietnam in 2019.
Zhang cited those meetings and the suspension of tests, asking: "What has been done by the U.S.?"
Thomas-Greenfield said launches of other ballistic missiles had continued over the past few years and that U.S. President Joe Biden could not commit to a meeting with Kim until Washington had "a better sense of what there is to achieve."
Diplomacy with North Korea has stalled since the summits between Trump and Kim, which failed to produce a deal. Pyongyang wants U.S. and U.N. sanctions to be removed. There has been no easing of any U.S. or U.N. measures, but China and Russia have said the Security Council should consider such a move.
Thomas-Greenfield said there was no reason for the council to "reward" Pyongyang for its ballistic missile tests.
"We continue to urge (North Korea) to respond positively to the offers from the United States and others to meet without preconditions," the eight council members and Japan said.
Reuters
Sat Feb 05 2022
Zhang said the council should only issue a statement if it is "helpful for the de-escalation of the tensions." - REUTERS
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Tekanan politik dalaman punca Israel ‘menggila’ - PM Jordan, Mesir
Kedua-dua perdana menteri negara Asia Barat itu setuju serangan ketenteraan di Rafah hanya akan memburukkan keadaan yang sudah sedia meruncing.
Tingkat kawalan di sempadan tangani kemasukan kambing, lembu murah menjelang Aidiladha
KPKM meminta jabatan dan agensi kerajaan berkaitan kawalan sempadan memperhebat penguatkuasaan serta kawalan di pintu masuk negara bagi menangani kemasukan kambing dan lembu murah menjelang Aidiladha.
Mahkamah tolak permohonan pemilik akaun media sosial mulakan semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan pemilik akaun media sosial untuk mendapatkan kebenaran bagi memulakan prosiding semakan kehakiman terhadap MCMC.
KOM beri tiga atlet kebebasan pilih SUKMA atau kejohanan dunia
KOM memberi kebebasan kepada tiga atlet muda kebangsaan, untuk memilih sama ada mewakili negeri ke SUKMA atau menyahut cabaran negara pada Kejohanan Olahraga Dunia Bawah 20 tahun (B-20) 2024.
Anggota polis didakwa terima rasuah beri tembakau kepada tahanan lokap
Seorang anggota polis berpangkat koperal berhadapan dua pertuduhan menerima rasuah sebagai balasan membawa masuk barang terlarang kepada tahanan lokap.
SPRM sahkan tiada penyelewengan, rasuah dikesan dalam projek NTC setakat ini
SPRM mengesahkan tidak menemui sebarang penyelewengan serta rasuah setakat ini berhubung cadangan projek pembinaan National Training Center (NTC) di Putrajaya yang dianggar bernilai RM25 juta.
WEF: Perdagangan Malaysia, Arab Saudi boleh diperkukuh menerusi kerjasama - Tengku Zafrul
Kerjasama Malaysia-Arab Saudi dengan saling memanfaat kekuatan antara satu sama lain dapat menyokong pertumbuhan perdagangan dan pelaburan.
Jalan berlubang, penunggang motosikal dapat ganti rugi RM721,000
Akibat kemalangan tersebut, plaintif mengalami kecederaan di bahu, lengan, jari dan kepala.
Selamatkan Gaza: Gaza semakin hari semakin memburuk
Peperangan di Gaza semakin hari semakin memburuk. Setakat ini dilaporkan lebih 37 ribu warga Gaza telah terkorban kerana serangan demi serangan daripada rejim Zionis.
Ia membawa kepada berlakunya krisis kemanusiaan di Gaza ketika ini.
Di Mesyuarat Khas wef yang berlangsung di Arab Saudi..krisis ini menjadi antara tumpuan.
Kita terus bersama dengan Najib Aroff dan Ashwad Ismail yang mengikuti mesyuarat ini di Arab Saudi.
Ia membawa kepada berlakunya krisis kemanusiaan di Gaza ketika ini.
Di Mesyuarat Khas wef yang berlangsung di Arab Saudi..krisis ini menjadi antara tumpuan.
Kita terus bersama dengan Najib Aroff dan Ashwad Ismail yang mengikuti mesyuarat ini di Arab Saudi.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera
Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera apabila terkena letupan bom di Sungai Golok, Thailand, malam tadi.
AS mahu perubahan struktur UNRWA sebelum sambung dana
AS tetapkan syarat sebelum melanjutkan pembiayaan UNRWA, membangkitkan isu perubahan struktur dan kesannya terhadap bantuan kemanusiaan di Gaza.
AS sumbang US$55 juta kepada Thailand bantu pelarian Myanmar, tangani COVID-19
Bantuan kerajaan AS akan disalurkan terus menerusi rakan kongsi pertubuhan antarabangsa serta badan bukan kerajaan.
AS kembali salur bantuan kepada Palestin, sumbang $15 juta untuk kempen COVID-19
Ini sekali gus dilihat keputusan pusingan 'U' daripada pentadbiran Donald Trump yang memotong hampir semua bantuan kepada rakyat Palestin.