G-7 deeply regrets U.N. failure to adopt new sanctions on North Korea

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major developed nations said Monday they “deeply regret” failure by the U.N. Security Council to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea following its latest missile test, indirectly rebuking China and Russia, two of the five permanent members, for vetoing a draft resolution.

In a statement, the ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union “condemn in the strongest terms” Pyongyang’s test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile last Wednesday, an act they say “undermines international peace and security.”

The rejection of the U.S.-drafted resolution Thursday was the first Security Council resolution aimed at preventing North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and missiles since 2006 when the first sanctions were adopted. The other 13 Security Council members voted for it.

The U.N. Security Council votes on a resolution that sought to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea in New York on May 26, 2022. China and Russia vetoed the resolution. (Photo courtesy of the United Nations)(Kyodo)

Related coverage:

China, Russia veto tougher U.N. sanctions on North Korea