The United States criticized North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the United Nations today for his use of "repression and brutality" and authoritarian rule to illegally develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council, "We cannot enjoy peace without human rights... Kim Jong Un's repressive and authoritarian control over society and the widespread systematic refusal of human rights and fundamental freedoms ensures that the ruling regime can disproportionately consume public resources to develop illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs without public objection."
The Security Council met to discuss human rights violations in North Korea for the first time since 2017. China stated that it opposes the public meeting of the Security Council regarding violations in North Korea but did not attempt to prevent the meeting from taking place today. China attempted unsuccessfully four times between 2014 and 2017 to block public meetings on the same issue. During the meeting, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, stated, "The Council should play a constructive role in resuming dialogue and easing tensions." He added, "Pushing the Council to consider the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) will not only negate contributions to easing tensions but also escalate the situation. This is irresponsible, unconstructive, and an abuse of the Council's authority."
