South Korea should have persisted with its original stance of brining North Korea to the United Nations Security Council even if doing so would encounter China’s veto, said a former U.S. lawmaker with Korean heritage.
“The resolution would not have passed (due to China’s objection), but South Korea, together with the United States and Japan should have pursued it all the way. China’s veto will be known to the international community and China will be held responsible for it,” Jay Kim (Kim Chang-jun), a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, told Yonhap News Agency.
The United Nations Security Council Friday condemned the sinking of the South Korean warship, Cheonan, in a carefully worded presidential statement that avoided naming North Korea as the perpetrator.
Concerning the presidential statement, Kim said: “Very regrettable. It amounts to nothing”.
Kim said playing into China’s plan of vetoing the resolution proposal could have been actually better. China’s veto on the matter would have invited international criticisms and as a consequence, he said, “China will no longer shield North Korea from international criticisms anymore.”