The United States and its allies clashed with China and Russia on Friday over North Korea's escalating missile launches and American-led military exercises in South Korea.
North Korea has launched 59 missiles this year, including 13 since Oct. 27 and one that made an "unprecedented impact" about 30 miles from South Korea's shore.
13 of the 15 Security Council members have condemned North Korea since the beginning of the year, but they have been protected by Russia and China who have "bent over backwards" to justify violations of U.N. sanctions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
She said that they made a mockery of the council by enabling theDPRK.
The re-launch of large-scale U.S.-South Korean military exercises is linked to the missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to the U.N. ambassador. According to him, the U.S. Defense Department has a plan to end the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's regime by using nuclear weapons.
The Russian deputy U.N. ambassador blamed the worsening situation on the Korean peninsula on the desire of Washington to exert pressure and force.
She said the U.S.-South Korean exercises are a rehearsal for conducting massive strikes on the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
America's Thomas-Greenfield responded to claims by China and Russia that the military drills were stoking tensions on the Korean peninsula. She said the military exercises posed no threat to anyone.
She said that the recent launches were a simulation of using tactical battlefield nuclear weapons to destroy U.S. and Republic of Korea targets. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea uses this as an excuse to continue to advance its illegal programs.
The Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test explosion in 2006 in order to rein in its nuclear and missile programs. The first serious rift on the council over the sanctions against North Korea occurred in May when China and Russia blocked a Security Council resolution.
Russia, China and the United States all agreed on the need for renewed talks and a diplomatic solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.
Zun called on the U.S. to respond to the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and stop playing up tensions. He said the Security Council should contribute to the restart of dialogue and negotiation and the resolution of the humanitarian and livelihood difficulties faced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Further sanctions would threaten North Korean citizens with unacceptable social, economic and humanitarian upheavals, and the need for preventive diplomacy is more important than just promises to establish substantive dialogue.
The United States remains committed to a diplomatic solution even in the face of the escalating missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to Thomas-Greenfield.
The 10 elected council members issued a statement condemning the launches and calling on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs.
The statement was read by the U.S., Britain, France, South Korea, Japan and others.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a meeting of Associated Press executives that he hoped the Security Council would take strong measures against North Korea.
He said that the only country since the end of World War II that has used nuclear weapons in a first strike is North Korea.
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