Russia and China Say Military Option Against North Korea is Unacceptable

The Russian delegation to the United Nations stated that "any attempt to justify a military solution" regarding North Korea is "unacceptable." The Chinese ambassador to the organization also remarked that "military tools should not be considered as an option." These statements are reactions to comments made by Nikki Haley, the U.S. representative to the United Nations. Ms. Haley stated during a Security Council meeting on July 4 that the U.S. is prepared to use military options against North Korea if necessary, but prefers an international diplomatic action regarding North Korea's intercontinental missile tests. North Korea announced on Tuesday that it successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile. Several U.S. officials have also confirmed the test. There is a possibility that the tested missile could target parts of U.S. territory. Ms. Haley mentioned that the United States will present a new sanctions resolution against North Korea to the Security Council in the coming days. However, it is unclear how much support the sanctions will receive from China and Russia, two countries that have relations with North Korea and can veto Security Council resolutions. Vladimir Safronkov, the deputy Russian ambassador to the UN, stated that "attempting to exert severe economic pressure on North Korea, while millions of its people are in dire need of humanitarian aid, is unacceptable." He also urged all parties to "refrain from provocation and threats of war." Mr. Safronkov emphasized that from Moscow's perspective, the way forward is to stop the military exercises of South Korea and the U.S. in exchange for halting North Korea's military tests. The Chinese representative also stated that this proposal is "fair and reasonable." Previously, U.S. and South Korean officials had rejected this option. Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo argue that the military exercises of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea are defensive in nature. In May of last year, North Korea's foreign minister stated that if the U.S. "stops its nuclear war exercises on the Korean Peninsula," Pyongyang would also "halt its nuclear tests." However, then-President Barack Obama rejected this option, stating that "a simple promise to stop tests until another time when they want to conduct similar activities again is not serious for us." China and Russia have gone beyond the military exercises and are also calling for the cessation of the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, a demand that was not met with approval from either the Obama or Trump administrations. Nearly 90% of North Korea's foreign trade is conducted with China. Nikki Haley warned that if this trade violates Security Council resolutions, Beijing will face a response from the United States.