Kim Song, the North Korean envoy to the United Nations, made a rare appearance before the Security Council on Thursday to defend the regime’s recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In his address, Kim argued that the launch was an act of self-defense, placing blame on the United States and its allies for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The emergency meeting of the Security Council took place one day after North Korea test-fired its new Hwasong-18 ICBM, which experts believe to be a more agile and quicker-to-launch solid-fuel missile compared to the regime’s previous liquid-fuel models.
During his speech, Kim emphasized that the missile launch was a response to military actions by hostile forces and criticized the Security Council meeting as contradictory and denying the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs.
This marked the first appearance of a North Korean representative before the Security Council since 2017, according to diplomatic sources.
In support of his argument, Kim cited recent claims of U.S. spy plane flights and the planned deployment of a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine to South Korea. He questioned how these actions contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and called on the Security Council to either refrain from obstructing North Korea’s right to self-defense or condemn the United States’ “anti-peace behavior.”
It is important to note that North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 for its missile and nuclear programs, with an explicit ban on developing ballistic missile technology.
Russia and China, key members of the Security Council, have consistently blocked U.S.-led efforts to impose new measures against North Korea since May of last year. This geopolitical divide has become more pronounced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In response to the repeated missile launches by North Korea, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis criticized Russia and China for preventing a unified response from the Security Council and suggested that Pyongyang’s actions have been encouraged by the lack of consequences.
The meeting concluded with a joint statement from ten member states condemning North Korea’s ICBM launch and advocating for a clear and collective signal that such behavior is unlawful, destabilizing, and will not be tolerated. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Khaled Khiari, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for political and peacebuilding affairs for the region, highlighted the capabilities of the Hwasong-18, stating that it can reach most points on Earth. He also expressed concern over North Korea’s failure to issue airspace or maritime safety notifications, which poses a risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic.
This year, North Korea has conducted a total of 20 ballistic missile launches, as reported by the Security Council members. China and Russia reiterated their objections to taking any actions, echoing North Korea’s claims that the United States shares responsibility for escalating regional tensions.
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, urged the United States to propose practical solutions, take meaningful actions, and address the legitimate concerns of North Korea instead of relying solely on sanctions and pressure.
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