China and Russia dismissed a US request to condemn North Korea in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over its satellite launch attempt. Instead, both nations criticized Washington for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

During the meeting convened by the United States and its allies to address the North Korea issue, a diplomat from the US-UN mission, Robert Wood, made an appeal.

"We call on all council members to uphold the credibility of the council, join us in condemning this unlawful behavior and urge the DPRK to not follow through on its stated plan to conduct another launch that will further pose a threat to international peace and security," Wood expressed his stance on the matter.

During the meeting, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, highlighted North Korea's "legitimate security concerns" and called for de-escalation instead of blaming any specific party. He criticized the US for raising tensions in the Korean peninsula through joint military exercises with South Korea. In response, Robert Wood, the US diplomat, noted that the Chinese delegation did not condemn North Korea's space launch.

Geng emphasized the importance of real dialogue that considers North Korea's concerns, pointing out the contradiction between the US claiming an open door for diplomacy while engaging in military activities in the region. Lana Nusseibeh, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, acknowledged that North Korea had given prior warning of the launch but emphasized that such warnings did not legitimize or minimize the launch's illegality.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously stated that any ballistic missile launch by North Korea would violate Security Council resolutions. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, referred to criticisms of the launch as a "self-contradiction," citing the satellite launches conducted by the US and other countries.

The North Korean attempt to launch a spy satellite sparked panic in the region. In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, air raid sirens blared, and authorities sent text messages to citizens, urging them to be prepared for possible evacuation. Japan responded by activating its missile alert system, anticipating that the projectile would land in the southern Okinawa region.

Image source: WION News