China calls UN Security Council talks on North Korea an ‘abuse of power’
- Geng Shuang, deputy permanent representative to the UN, says the discussion on human rights is ‘irresponsible, unconstructive’
- Meeting held a day before the US hosts summit with South Korea and Japan, with tech and defence ties expected to be discussed
“The primary responsibility of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security, not to deal with human rights issues, and the human rights situation in the DPRK does not pose a threat to international peace and security,” Geng said during the opening briefing of the meeting, which was requested by the United States, Albania and Japan.
He was referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s formal name.
Geng said the Security Council should instead focus its efforts on improving mutual trust and promoting dialogue.
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He did not name any country but said efforts to “hype up the human rights issue … in an attempt to divert attention, shift responsibility and exert pressure are detrimental” to the situation on the Korean peninsula.