U.S. Fires A Shot at China & Russia Over Kim Jong Un’s Safety Net
The United Nations Security Council huddled on Wednesday after North Korea launched a nukery‑grade missile that streaked over Japan—a first in five years. The U.S.‑savvy Linda Thomas‑Greenfield called out China and Russia, saying the duo have effectively put a “blanket” over Kim Jong Un.
Why the Blah‑Blah of a Meeting Matters
- China & Russia weren’t keen on a public council dance, claiming a private sit‑down would keep the peace better.
- After the meeting, nine members—U.S., Britain, France, Albania, Brazil, India, Ireland, Norway and the UAE—stormed the joint statement owning up to the missile.
- China’s Geng Shuang urged the council to move from “hard talk” to “soft diplomacy.”
- Russia’s Anna Evstigneeva warned that new sanctions are a dead end and that the UN should instead back inter‑Korean talks.
Back‑story: How the Vetoed Vibes Came to Play
China and Russia blocked a U.S.‑led push for tougher UN sanctions on North Korea back in May. That was the first split in the Security Council since 2006 when sanctions began cracking on Pyongyang. Now, they’re pushing for easing those sanctions for “humanitarian reasons” and to coax Kim back into the negotiating table.
Thomas‑Greenfield’s Take
“We’re basically rewarding DPRK for doing wrong,” she said, ruffling the sense that China & Russia are turning a diplomat’s glove into a “reward” for bad moves. She also slammed the idea that U.S. & S.Korea joint exercises were the cause of the missile launch—no overlap there, she insists.
What This Means for the UN
- North Korea is still officially barred from nuclear tests and ballistic launches.
- Sanctions continue to try to cut off the money pile‑up that fuels those programs.
- Any thinning of those sanctions risks giving Pyongyang a carte blanche to keep fanning the flames.
For the U.N., the question remains: are we stepping up or stepping back when China and Russia push for less pressure on Kim? The U.S. says hell no—time to keep the big guns aimed at the right target.
