Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

On North Korea Nukes, Ban Ki-moon Takes 3 Handpicked Q, Ignores Africa

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 9 -- After North Korea conducted its nuclear test, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon scheduled a stakeout press encounter for noon on September 9; the UN noon briefing on all other topics was canceled. Ban, we noted, is coyly running for president of South Korea. That seemed to be the focus.

Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, even as Ban read his statement, tried to catch the eye of the reporters he wanted to ask questions: what does Ban want the Security Council to do, does he feel disappointed at how little he's accomplished on this North Korea file in his ten years as SG?

How about Ban's (many) other failures? Given that the first meeting in the afternoon is on Western Sahara, a “frozen” conflict Ban turned hot through distracted sloppiness, Inner City Press asked quite audibly, “On Western Sahara, why do you want the UN to build a road for Morocco?” Ban did not answer. Vine here. Inner City Press scoop here.

But would Ban answer why he promoted his own son in law to top UN job in Kenya, without recusing himself?

The UN Security Coouncil was in South Sudan, and US President Obama and others in China for the G20 when North Korea conducted its most recent launch. On US Labor Day, with the Council in Ethiopia, a UN Security Council meeting was announced for September 6 at 11:30 am.

After being accompanied as now required by one of Ban Ki-moon's minders, click here, Inner City Press arrived at the UN Security Council stakeout at 11 am. The only Ambassador to make remarks, off UNTV, before the meeting was France's Francois Delattre, who said “ballistic launches by NorthKorea... are a grave challenge to the non-proliferation regime.” Vine here.

   After the consultations - and a UN noon briefing in which Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric once again refused to provide information about Ban's promotion of his own son in law to the top UN job in Kenya and even the costs of Ban's current two week junket - US Ambassador Samantha Power and her Japanese and South Korea counterpart spoke on UNTV.

   The two questions, pointed to by Power's spokesman, were pre-selected; these was no question from South Korean media. One question was whether any Press Statement that comes out will refer to Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.

After New Zealand as President of the Council for September read out the statement below, right after the Council's short 3 pm meeting on the ICTY, Inner City Press asked if there's been any proposal to refer to Japan's EEZ. But they said they were not taking questions. Vine here. Next time? Watch this site.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 5 September 2016. These launches are in grave violation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s international obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016).

The members of the Security Council deplore all Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension.

The members of the Security Council further regretted that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while Democratic People’s Republic of Korea citizens have great unmet needs.

The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted these ballistic missile launches after the 15 April, 23 April, 27 April, 28 April, 31 May, 21 June, 9 July, 18 July, 2 August and 23 August launches, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions.

The members of the Security Council called upon all Member States to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by the Security Council, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolution 2270 (2016).

The members of the Security Council directed the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) to intensify its work to strengthen enforcement of resolution 2270 (2016) and assist Member States to comply with their obligations under that resolution and other relevant resolutions.
The members of the Security Council also called on Member States to report as soon as possible on concrete measures they have taken in order to implement effectively the provisions of resolution 2270 (2016).

The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue.

The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with the Council’s previously expressed determination.
6 September 2016

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