On Thursday, China and Russia rejected a UN resolution backed by the US that would have placed harsh new penalties on North Korea for its recent intercontinental ballistic missile launches.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13-2, marking the first significant split among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations' most powerful body on a North Korea sanctions resolution.

After North Korea's first nuclear test explosion in 2006, the Security Council imposed sanctions and reinforced them throughout the years in a total of twelve resolutions attempting – so far unsuccessfully – to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and cut off revenue.

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However, China and Russia warned the Security Council following the decision that they reject more measures, emphasizing that what is required now is renewed engagement between North Korea and the US.

The vote disappointed but did not surprise US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who described North Korea's 23 ballistic missile launches this year, including six ICBMs after a five-year moratorium, as a "grave threat to international peace and security."

“The world faces a clear and present danger from the DPRK,” she said, using the initials of the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and citing its continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, as per expected US claims. 
 
The council's most recent sanctions resolution, passed in December 2017, committed members to further restricting North Korean petroleum exports if it executed a ballistic missile launch capable of reaching intercontinental ranges.

Before the vote, Thomas-Greenfield encouraged the council to follow through on its vow and take action against the North's ICBM launches and increasing nuclear program.

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