SpaceWar.com reports: “The United States on Wednesday denounced Russia for ‘cynically obstructing’ the monitoring of North Korea’s compliance with UN sanctions, saying Moscow was trying to dodge criticism for using Pyongyang’s weapons in its war with Ukraine.

Several Security Council members, including the United States and South Korea, convened a meeting on the issue to heighten awareness of Moscow’s potential sanctions-busting actions, the interim US envoy said.

‘Today’s briefing shows the Council will continue to ensure member states are aware of sanctions violations and evasion activity that generate revenue’ for North Korea’s ‘unlawful’ weapons programs ‘despite Russia’s veto,’ said the envoy, Dorothy Shea.

In March 2024, by vetoing a Security Council resolution, Russia effectively ended the system in place to monitor Pyongyang’s compliance with UN sanctions first implemented in 2006 and subsequently strengthened several times.

The committee responsible for that monitoring no longer exists.

‘The DPRK continues brazenly to violate the Council’s resolutions by exporting coal and iron ore to China, the proceeds of which directly fund its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs,’ Shea said, using an acronym for North Korea’s official name…”