The United States on Monday accused China and Russia of “encouraging” missile launches North Korea by preventing a united response from the UN Security Council on this issue.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accused “three countries” of “failing to engage in good faith diplomacy on this threat”: North Korea”that it continues to ignore the many offers of dialogue”, and “Russia and Chinawhose filibuster in the Council encourages North Korea to launch ballistic missiles with impunity.”

“How many times must North Korea violate Security Council resolutions before China and Russia stop serving as shields for the North Korean regime?”, the diplomat asked at a Council meeting.

North Korea responds with missile demonstration to exercises by South Korea and the United States

China and Russia vetoed a resolution imposing new sanctions on Pyongyang last May, and no Council resolution or statement has been adopted since then, despite numerous North Korean missile launches, the latest over the weekend.

The last demonstrations of Security Council unity on this issue date back to 2017.

During the Donald Trump administration (2017-2021), the United States succeeded in getting the Security Council to unanimously adopt three resolutions with a battery of economic sanctions against Pyongyang following nuclear and missile tests.

North Korea confirms launch of intercontinental ballistic missile

In a joint statement, nine members of the Council (including the United States, France and Japan), in addition to South Korea, denounced this Monday “an unprecedented number” of missile launches that “threaten not only the region but also world peace and stability”.

“North Korea is testing the determination and raison d’être of the Council and the Council must act”, they assured in the text.

China and Russia deny responsibility for North Korean launches and they say they would be in response to joint US military exercises with South Korea.