US Allies Clash with North Korea, Russia, and China Over Failed Spy Satellite Launch
In a heated Security Council meeting held at the United Nations, the United States and its allies, including Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, and Malta, clashed with North Korea, Russia, and China over Pyongyang’s failed attempts to launch a spy satellite. The meeting was called to condemn the attempted launch, which violated the use of banned ballistic missile technology.
North Korea’s United Nations ambassador, Kim Song, attended the meeting, marking only the second time he has done so since 2017. Ambassador Kim Song defended North Korea’s actions, stating that the country has the sovereign right to launch a satellite for self-defense against the “hostile military acts of the United States and its followers.”
The North’s space agency confirmed that its reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, failed for the second time to go into orbit. They blamed an error in its third-stage flight and announced plans for a third attempt in October. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un considers achieving a successful satellite launch a key military goal.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield criticized North Korea for defying Security Council resolutions and pursuing its unlawful ballistic missile program. She emphasized that 13 out of 15 Security Council members oppose North Korea’s actions and have called for an end to its pursuit of nuclear weapons and tests, as well as unity within the council.
Ambassador Kim Song responded by stating that North Korea has never recognized Security Council resolutions, considering them as infringing on the rights of a sovereign state. He accused the United States and South Korea of turning the Korean Peninsula into a potential area for a nuclear war.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the Security Council meeting as a cynical attempt by the U.S. and its allies to pressure Pyongyang. Nebenzia placed the blame on the United States and its regional allies, characterizing them as the real sources of threats to international peace and security. He called for a dialogue to strengthen regional security.
China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Geng Shuang, accused the United States of having a long-standing hostile policy towards North Korea. He claimed that Washington’s continuous pressure, including sending a nuclear-armed submarine to the peninsula, makes North Korea feel increasingly insecure. Shuang urged the Security Council to take practical actions to address North Korea’s concerns and create conditions for dialogue.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield rejected the claims made by Russia and China, emphasizing that the U.S. military exercises were routine, lawful, and defensive. She reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to diplomacy, stating that the U.S. has repeatedly urged North Korea to engage in dialogue without preconditions.
The meeting also witnessed a heated exchange between Japan, North Korea, and China over Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. North Korea’s Ambassador Song denounced Japan’s actions as a “heinous crime against humanity,” jeopardizing safety and security. Japan’s Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane defended the decision, citing scientific evidence that supports the safety of the discharges. China reiterated its strong opposition, claiming that it transfers the nuclear threat to the whole world.
Overall, the Security Council meeting highlighted the deep divisions between the United States and its allies and North Korea, Russia, and China. Finding a resolution to the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula remains a challenge that requires meaningful dialogue and diplomatic efforts from all parties involved.