Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at UNSC briefing on the situation on the Korean Peninsula
Mr.President,
We thank ASG Khiari for the briefing. We welcome Permanent Representatives of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea to this meeting.
Russia is following with concern the development of a new round of escalation on the Korean peninsula. We are particularly worried over the pace of escalation on both sides, which is bringing the situation to a dangerous line. With equal fervor, a US-led group of delegations requests Security Council meetings on the issue. It has been hardly two weeks since the last meeting on today's topic in this Chamber. Neither the content of the statements of the initiators of the discussion nor their approaches have changed. Today, they repeated their points almost word for word, and there are no signs that they actually realize the deadlock of the current situation.
On November 27, we already drew attention to the serious distortions in the remarks of certain Council members when considering the situation in the region, aimed only at condemning Pyongyang. Such one-sided approaches are the root cause why this Council is unable to choose the right optics for discussing the mounting threats.
We see how both sides justify their reciprocal unfriendly steps by a sovereign right to self-defense. We understand the motives behind such rhetoric on the part of both Pyongyang and Seoul. However, what defies any explanation is why the United States, whose borders are thousands of kilometers away from the Korean Peninsula, joined the ranks of victims of so-called North Korean provocations.
In parallel to that, for the past half year, we have been witnessing the American military machine being deployed in the region. Washington-led exercises ‘Freedom Shield’ and ‘Ssang Yong’ was nothing else but a demonstration of force, which by definition cannot have a positive impact on the situation.
The drills involved two US strategic bombers B-52H. Suffice it to mention that this aircraft brutally cleansed the civilian population during the War in Viet Nam. A month ago, a US carrier strike group led by aircraft carriers Carl Vinson and Ronald Reagan visited the port of Busan. And the day before yesterday, on December 17, the US submarine ‘Missouri’ visited the South Korean port. This increasingly resembles preparations for an offensive operation. Claims that there are no hostile intentions look ridiculous. Nevertheless, the US delegation steadfastly repeats that appropriate steps have been taken in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. I wonder what steps the US believes would be commensurate for Pyongyang to take in response to such maneuvers near the DPRK territory.
Mr.President,
Russia has always stood for a peaceful settlement of the entire set of problems on the Korean Peninsula exclusively by political and diplomatic means, without external pressure or blackmail. We strongly urge the direct participants in the confrontation to come to the negotiating table.
External players, primarily the United States, need to arrive at the only correct decision in the current situation, which would be to refrain from further aggressive steps, including threats to overthrow the government and demonstrations of force, and to create conditions for mutually respectful dialogue between the North and the South.
The Russian-Chinese draft political and humanitarian resolution of the UN Security Council remains on the table. By adopting it, the Council can contribute constructively to the process of regional settlement.
Thank you.
