China blocks US webcast of North Korea human rights abuse meeting at UN Security Council

Name: US and South Korea stage largest joint military drills in years as North Korea test-fires missiles
Uploaded: 2023-03-15T17:40:51.000Z
Duration: 1 min 30 s
Description: US and South Korea stage largest joint military drills in years as North Korea test-fires missiles

China told its Security Council colleagues that the discussion ‘won’t bring any benefit, and we have been against the holding of this … meeting from the very beginning’

‘Why is China so afraid of discussing human rights publicly?’ asked a UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity

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A meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, US. China has reportedly blocked the US from broadcasting a Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea. Photo: Reuters

Reuters

Published: 1:40am, 16 Mar 2023Updated: 2:19am, 16 Mar 2023

China blocked the United States on Wednesday from broadcasting on the internet an informal UN Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea, diplomats said.

The meeting will be held on Friday, but the 15 council members have to unanimously agree to allow it to be webcast. Diplomats said it is rare for a broadcast to be blocked.

The Security Council has regularly discussed human rights in North Korea since 2014 in public formal meetings and behind closed doors. China and Russia have long said they do not believe the council – charged with maintaining international peace and security – should be discussing human rights in North Korea.

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China told its council colleagues on Wednesday in an email, seen by Reuters, that the discussion – “won’t bring any benefit, and we have been against the holding of this … meeting from the very beginning”.

“Therefore, we have to object to the webcasting of this meeting by UN WebTV,” China said.

Pyongyang rejects accusations of human rights abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation in North Korea. The country has been under UN sanctions over its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes since 2006.

“Why is China so afraid of discussing human rights publicly?” asked a UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.