Global Geopolitical Series: Russia vetoes UNSC report on North Korea

The representative of the Russian Federation at the United Nations’ Security Council (UNSC), Vassily Nebenzia vetoed a report by the council on members’ compliance with the UNSC sanctions on North Korea and halted discussions on it. Russia announced that it has decided to halt discussions of a United Nations Security Council report on North Korea, due to disagreement on some of its points and concern over parts of it being leaked before publication, “The discussion was vivid... we put on hold the report of the Committee 1718, because we disagree with certain elements of the report and on the conduct of the business itself. I will not dwell upon it because the report before it is published, is confidential". He added that Russia has been vehemently opposed to any part of the report being made public prematurely and the country would now follow protocol methods and hold discussions with the head of the Committee on how to proceed further.  

Russia’s action was probably in response to the leak a part of the Report to Reuters, which alleged that Pyongyang did not halt its nuclear and missile program and was supplying certain states in the Middle East and Africa with weapons, thus violating the UN sanctions. Among the alleged customers of the reclusive state are the Houthi rebels, fighting against the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. North Korea is also accused of shipping fuel, including coal and petroleum, which is prohibited under the strict sanctions’ regime as well.

Russia has partially blamed the United States for the leak.