Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Naeini: Trump's statements are a result of his defeat against Iran, and we advise him to abandon absurd policies
Gaza Government Media Office: The number of children martyred due to malnutrition has risen to 66

US slams UNSC 'silence' on DPRK missiles as 'worse than shameful'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Feb 2023 09:26
4 Min Read

Despite denouncing "lack of action," the US itself has been recently delaying a draft resolution calling on the Israeli occupation to "immediately and completely cease" settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.

  • x
  • DPRK
    US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, speaks during a UNSC meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on February 6, 2023. (Reuters)

The United States on Monday denounced what it described as a "dangerous" lack of action by the United Nations Security Council on the missile launches carried by the DRPK, accusing -- but not naming -- China and Russia of having "forced" the body "into silence".

The DPRK test-fired dozens of missiles in 2022. It fired two ballistic missiles Monday, 48 hours after testing an intercontinental ballistic missile.

"In the face of unprecedented launches last year, two permanent members forced us into silence in spite of countless DPRK (North Korean) violations," Washington's UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, referring to vetoes by China and Russia last May of a resolution that would have imposed new sanctions against Pyongyang.

"On this vital matter, silence leads to irrelevance," Thomas-Greenfield pointed out at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

The 15-member panel's "lack of action is worse than shameful. It is dangerous," she claimed, saying the "repeated failures to respond emboldens the DPRK" to conduct such launches.

"The reality is that those who shield the DPRK from the consequences of its escalatory missile tests put the Asian region, and entire world, at risk of conflict," Thomas-Greenfield claimed.

She claimed that thanks to sanctions approved by the Security Council in 2017, Pyongyang "refrained from any major provocations for nearly five years" and engaged in dialogue with the West.

The US envoy pointed out that even if permanent members of the Security Council continue to block action, Washington will nevertheless propose adopting a statement condemning the DPRK launches.

Despite denouncing "lack of action," the US itself has been recently delaying a draft resolution calling on the Israeli occupation to "immediately and completely cease" settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, as per UN diplomats, with the White House saying it was "deeply dismayed" by the Israeli plans, in a clear act of double standards.

Related News

DOGE loses control over federal grant applications review: WashPo

IRGC slams Trump's 'nonsense' statements following war on Iran

In the same context, several other members echoed the US criticism of the UNSC over Pyongyang's missile launches.

"If we remain silent for fear of further provocations, that will only encourage rule breakers to write the playbook as they like," Japan's UN Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro said.

"We have to face facts: the current escalation is dangerous," France's Nicolas de Riviere added.

The question is simple, he said, "Can this council accept that North Korea becomes a nuclear state?"

Read more: US blocks all resolutions on Palestine: Russia at UNSC

Russia points finger at joint US-South Korea military exercises

On its part, Russia pointed the finger at joint US-South Korean military exercises for the escalation, with the country's Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy saying, the "United States and its allies have special responsibility in this situation."

"Constant Security Council meetings on North Korea issues in a situation where individual members of the council are not ready for constructive dialogue and only want to criticize DPRK are not conducive to resolving the situation," indicated Polyanskiy.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the DPRK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the US has been turning the Korean Peninsula into a military base, accusing the Security Council of failing to act.

It is noteworthy that the Security Council's last display of unity on the issue came in 2017. Under the administration of then-president Donald Trump, the US led the council to adopt three resolutions imposing sanctions on Pyongyang after missile and nuclear tests.

Read more: South Korean defense paper dubs DPRK 'enemy', again

  • United States
  • DPRK
  • US
  • UN Security Council
  • UNSC
  • North Korea

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS