North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Choe Son-hui, sharply criticized the newly formed international group monitoring its nuclear weapons program on Sunday, calling it “illegal and illegitimate.”
Pay a High Price
Choe also warned that nations participating in the group would "pay a high price."
"I strongly condemn this as a provocation against international justice and the most blatant violation of North Korea's sovereignty," Choe said.
The monitoring group, which includes the U.S., South Korea, Japan, the U.K., and several other nations, was formed after Russia blocked efforts to continue UN-led oversight of North Korea’s nuclear activities, according to Ziare.
The group is designed to enforce existing UN sanctions by investigating and publicizing violations and attempts to evade restrictions.
Further Isolates Itself
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell acknowledged that Washington would have preferred to keep the UN program intact. However, he blamed Russia’s opposition for forcing the creation of this alternative mechanism.
“The goal is to ensure full implementation of UN sanctions through rigorous investigations,” Campbell said.
The situation comes as North Korea ramps up military activities and further isolates itself. Recently, Pyongyang announced it would permanently close its border with South Korea, adding to the already tense atmosphere in the region.
Speculation has also grown that North Korean soldiers might be deployed to assist Russia in its ongoing war in Ukraine, which would represent a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy.
The establishment of this new monitoring effort is an indicator for the international community’s concern about North Korea's advancing nuclear program. In spite of the group aiming to increase pressure on Pyongyang, North Korea’s strong reaction suggests the situation could lead to further escalation.
