hankyoreh

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations

The U.N. Security Council has failed to agree on a statement to address rising tensions on the Korean peninsula on Sunday.

After more than eight hours of closed-door consultations, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who called the emergency council meeting, told reporters, “We were not successful in bridging all the bridges.”

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice also said, “The gaps that remain are unlikely to be bridged.”

The council was divided over whether to condemn North Korea for shelling on Yeonpyeong Island. Britain, supported by the United States and France, proposed a draft statement to “deplore” North Korea’s “attack,” but China and Russia opposed any statement denouncing North Korea.

Earlier in the day, Russia circulated a draft statement calling on all parties concerned to “exercise maximum restraint” and urging U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to send an envoy to Seoul and Pyongyang for a “resumption of dialogue and resolution of all problems dividing them exclusively through peaceful diplomatic means.”

North Korea’s U.N. ambassador, Sin Son-ho, appeared at the venue, but did not answer any questions from reporters.

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