China, Russia say the US is causing tension on the Korean peninsula

Ambassador China at the United Nations Truong Quan criticized Washington’s approach to Pyongyang, arguing that tensions on the peninsula North Korea “The escalation to today’s levels is mainly due to US policy” and called for easing sanctions on North Korea during the United Nations General Assembly session on June 8.

Deputy ambassador Russia at the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva also called for sanctions to be lifted, saying North Korea needed more humanitarian aid and that the West should stop blaming the country for tensions.

Deputy ambassador America Jeffrey DeLaurentis denied the accusations, asserting that existing sanctions and proposed additions are a direct way of responding to actions taken by North Korea.

“We want dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions. We have expressed this desire through many personal channels, including messages from senior US officials to the North Korean leadership.” , he said.

Washington believes Pyongyang is ready to conduct a nuclear test, following a series of ballistic missile launches that were accused of violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.

North Korean Ambassador Kim Song defended the military tests by noting that the UN Charter stipulates that “every country has the right to individual or collective self-defense”.

The European Union, South Korea and Japan said North Korea’s weapons tests showed “a disregard for UN resolutions and the international community”.

The June 8 meeting was a landmark because it was the first time that the permanent members of the Security Council had to explain the reason for using the veto power under the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on April 26.

The veto power in the Security Council was first used in 1946. The Soviet Union and Russia have used it 144 times, the US 86 times, the UK 30 times, China 19 times and France 18 times.

Hong Hanh (Follow AFP)