Press Releases
Rejection of the draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee
(Statement by Press Secretary KOBAYASHI Maki)
March 28, 2024
- Japan regrets that the draft United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) proposed by the U.S. on the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee was rejected on March 28 local time due to the veto of Russia.
- Amid North Korea’s development of nuclear and missile programs and repeated violations of UNSCRs, the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee had been extended by unanimous vote every year since its establishment in 2009, and through its investigative activities, it had played an important role in improving the effectiveness of relevant UNSCRs such as by providing information on sanction evasion activities by North Korea.
- In this context, many Council members, including Japan, had engaged in sincere, transparent and candid discussions on the mandate of the Panel of Experts to overcome differences of opinion among them, and there was broad support for the draft resolution among the Council members. It is regrettable, however, that Russia, who should hold greater resnposibility in the maintenance of international peace and security as a permanent member of the Security Council, chose to excercise its veto power. This is a disregard for the United Nations and multilateralism, and an act that contradicts its grave responsibility as a member of the UNSC to maintain the global nuclear nonproliferation regime.
- The Government of Japan will consider further actions, working even more closely than ever with like-minded countries such as the United States and the Republic of Korea, towards the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs. Japan, as a Council member, will continue to actively engage in discussions on dealing with North Korea, including discussions in the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee, and will make efforts so that the UNSC can fulfil its expected role, while closely communicating with other UNSC members.