The US Chooses North Korea Sanctions Over China And Russia's Proposed Resolution, Foreign Minister Lavrov: Wrong Bet

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kuhlmann MSC)

JAKARTA - Washington is seen as making a losing bet by continuing to pressure its sanctions on North Korea, refusing to accept a draft resolution proposed by Russia and China on easing these restrictions on a number of fronts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"Unfortunately, the United States and its European Allies are still not ready to accept the (resolution), and they are definitely making a losing bet by gambling for sanctions and pressure policies on Pyongyang. Meanwhile, not offering any constructive ideas in response," Russia's top diplomat explained, citing TASS January 22.

Previously, the Russian Foreign Ministry had high hopes for the draft political and humanitarian resolution proposed by Russia and China.

The draft stipulates an easing of sanctions against North Korea along humanitarian lines and in other areas unrelated to the nuclear missile program, which would be a serious incentive to revive political discourse by all countries involved.

"We proceed from the stance that in the current pandemic conditions, providing assistance to the people of the DPRK would be a timely and responsible step on behalf of the global community," the ministry said in a statement, using North Korea's official name as DPRK.

"In addition, the adoption of this resolution will help build trust among the countries involved and can be a powerful incentive to revive political dialogue," the statement continued.

The diplomatic agency also stated that, by 2022, Moscow intends to continue to promote a Russia-China approach towards a settlement on the Korean Peninsula, set out by the 2017 Joint Roadmap.

"We believe that the only way to solve the problems on the Korean Peninsula is through political dialogue, which can serve to find ways to meet the legitimate concerns of all parties involved, even regarding security guarantees," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.