The U.S. calls a U.N. meeting on undermining North Korea sanctions.

Security Council to address illegal aid given North Korea

UNITED NATIONS — The United States has called an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council for Monday in response to what it says are efforts by some countries “to undermine and obstruct” sanctions against North Korea.

The U.S. Mission announced Friday night that the meeting will “discuss the implementation and enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea.”

The mission didn’t name any countries, but U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia on Thursday of pressuring an independent panel of U.N. experts to alter a report on North Korea sanctions that included alleged violations “implicating Russian actors.”

Haley said the panel should release the original report, which cited “a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products” for North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions. It said some products allegedly were off-loaded from Russian ships, which were identified in the report.

A summary of the experts report obtained in early August by The Associated Press also said North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. And it said North Korea is violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions.

The Security Council has remained united in imposing tougher and tougher sanctions on North Korea, though the differences over the experts’ report mark a serious dent in that unity.

U.N. diplomats familiar with discussions said Russia was angered that the panel used a lot of U.S. intelligence in the initial report that Moscow claimed was incorrect.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were private.

Haley expressed disappointment in the panel “for caving to Russian pressure and making changes to what should have been an independent report.” She called it “a stain” on the experts’ important work.

Nikki Haley