U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield recently visited the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea, bordering North Korea, to urge Russia and China to stop supporting North Korea’s defiance of international sanctions on its weapons programs. Russia and China recently blocked the renewal of a panel of experts tasked with monitoring these sanctions, which has been in place for 15 years. Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that enabling North Korea’s actions and shielding it from accountability only encourages further bad behavior and urged the two countries to reverse their stance.
During her visit, Thomas-Greenfield also met with young North Korean defectors in South Korea, praising their bravery in escaping to freedom. She highlighted the importance of raising awareness about human rights violations in North Korea and amplifying the voices of those who have managed to flee the repressive regime. The U.S. ambassador’s trip to South Korea included meetings with President Yoon Suk Yeol and other officials to discuss strategies for deterring North Korea’s weapons programs and advocating for human rights in the country.
In addition to South Korea, Thomas-Greenfield is scheduled to travel to Japan, another U.S. ally and member of the United Nations Security Council. While in Japan, she plans to meet with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the early 2000s and visit Nagasaki, a city that was devastated by a U.S. nuclear bomb in 1945. This trip is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation in addressing the security challenges posed by North Korea’s actions, as well as to draw attention to the human rights abuses suffered by its citizens.
The U.S. is committed to working with its allies in the region, such as South Korea and Japan, as well as other partners on the Security Council, to address the threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of finding creative solutions to continue monitoring sanctions enforcement and other activities aimed at curbing North Korea’s weapons development in the face of opposition from Russia and China. By leveraging the collective efforts of like-minded nations, the U.S. aims to advance peace and security in Northeast Asia and hold North Korea accountable for its actions.
The U.S. ambassador’s visit to the Demilitarized Zone and subsequent meetings with South Korean and Japanese officials demonstrate the continued commitment of the United States to addressing the challenges posed by North Korea’s aggressive behavior. By engaging with key partners in the region and amplifying the voices of those affected by North Korea’s human rights abuses, the U.S. seeks to build a coalition of countries united in their efforts to promote peace, security, and respect for human rights in the Korean Peninsula. Thomas-Greenfield’s visit serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding international norms and deterring the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
