The United States accused China on Friday of attempting to hide North Korea’s atrocities from the world by blocking the webcast of an informal meeting of United Nations Security Council members on accusations of human rights abuses by Pyongyang.
“Some council members are all too willing to shield the regime from accountability,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the meeting in a veiled reference to China and Russia.
China and Russia argue that the 15-member Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should not discuss human rights issues. They say such meetings should be confined to other U.N. bodies like the U.N. Human Rights Council or the U.N. General Assembly.
Chinese diplomat Xing Jisheng said the meeting, co-hosted by the United States and Albania, was “not constructive in any way.”
“Instead of easing tension it may rather intensify the conflict and therefore is an irresponsible move. Using U.N. WebTV for live broadcast is a waste of U.N. resources,” he said.
All 15 council members have to agree to allow such informal discussions to be webcast by the United Nations, and diplomats said it was rare for a broadcast to be blocked. Despite China’s move, the meeting on Friday was still public and media attended.
Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs were “inextricably linked to the regime’s human rights abuses.”
“The pursuit of weapons of mass destruction always trumps human rights and humanitarian needs of its people,” she said. “(North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un has chosen ammunition instead of nutrition, missiles over humankind.”
North Korea did not take part in the meeting. Its mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.