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UN resolution against North Korea not intended to hurt civilians, Russian diplomat says

The main goal of the resolution is "to deter and thwart certain moves and events," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated
North Koreans in Pyongyang AP Photo/Wong Maye-E
North Koreans in Pyongyang
© AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

MOSCOW, November 30 /TASS/. A draft resolution on additional sanctions against North Korea, which the United Nations is going to discuss on Wednesday, seeks to deter illegal actions that violate international law rather than hurting the country’s civilian population, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated at Wednesday’s briefing.

"Work on the resolution has been going on until this very day, including contacts with our corresponding agencies. Our basic premise is the fact that sanctions resolutions should, first and foremost, meet the goals assigned to them, namely to do everything possible to prevent the recurrence of actions by any state if they contradict international law," Zakharova explained.

"These resolutions are not supposed to harm ordinary citizens. Their main goal is to deter and thwart certain moves and events," the Russian diplomat stressed.

Pyongyang carried out its fifth nuclear test this past September. That prompted the UN Security Council to begin efforts on drawing up a new resolution but its adoption was drawn out due to different approaches by China and the United States.

North Korea refuses to recognize UN declarations and resolutions on the country’s nuclear and missile program. Pyongyang refers to its right to launch satellites for peaceful purposes in compliance with international law and conduct military tests for self-defense purposes.