SEOUL: The US, South Korea and Japan are pushing for a new multi-national panel of experts, possibly outside the UN, to ensure sanctions enforcement against North Korea after Russia and China thwarted monitoring activities at the world body, three Reuters sources said on Wednesday (Apr 17).
The push came after Russia rejected the annual renewal of the UN panel of experts that has over the past 15 years monitored the implementation of sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. China abstained from the vote.
The envisioned new panel is aimed at continuing the UN entity’s work and would be operated by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo and joined by likeminded countries including Australia, New Zealand and some European countries, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to diplomatic sensitivity.
“The UN panel had faced some difficulties as Chinese and Russian members often tried to water down North Korea’s suspected sanctions evasion,” a senior South Korean government official said.
Such a team would likely lack the international legitimacy granted to a UN-backed operation, but would be able to more effectively monitor North Korea, the official said.
Seoul would prefer launching the mechanism among allies and friends, but there is a possibility that they will seek formal endorsement through the UN General Assembly (UNGA), another senior official said.
