SEOUL: The US, South Korea and Japan have announced the launch of a new multinational team in order to monitor the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea following China and Russia thwarted monitoring activities at the United Nations (UN).
The new mechanism, named the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, has been introduced following Moscow in March rejected the annual renewal of a UN panel of experts that had over the last fifteen years overseen the execution of sanctions aimed at curbing nuclear and missile programs of North Korea. However, China has abstained from the vote.
The team is meant to continue the UN panel’s work, including issuing reports on sanctions enforcement, and will also involve the participation of 8 other countries including France, Britain, and Germany, a top South Korean official stated.
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Its launch was revealed at a joint news conference in Seoul by US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano and South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, alongside ambassadors of the 8 nations, ahead of their dialogs in Seoul.
Seoul and Washington say Russia and North Korea have made illicit military transactions. However, Russia and North Korea have rejected arms transfers but have vowed to boost military relations, clinching a mutual defense agreement at a summit in June.
