US anger at Russia changes to UN N.Korea report

Several paragraphs referring to Russian oil trade in a United Nations report about sanctions on North Korea have been removed at Moscow's urging, sparking US anger on Thursday.

Russia at the end of August had blocked publication of the report on the implementation of sanctions against North Korea because it disagreed with findings that Pyongyang had exceeded a 2018 import cap for oil set by the sanctions imposed last year, a diplomatic source said last month.

Sources at that time also said Russia blocked a US request that two Russian shipping companies and six of their vessels be sanctioned over oil shipments to the North.

"Russia can't be allowed to edit and obstruct independent UN reports on North Korea sanctions just because they don't like what they say," Washington's UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement.

She accused the UN panel of "caving to Russian pressure" and making changes to its report.

"This is a dangerous precedent and a stain on the important work of the Panel," Haley said, calling for the initial version of the report -- dating from early August -- to be published.

The US in July had demanded without success an end to all oil exports to North Korea, citing satellite photos and expert reports to claim illegal ship-to-ship transfers had allowed Pyongyang to evade sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

In its original report the UN panel included the names of Russian ships and entities that had contravened UN sanctions, opening the way for international measures against them.

Russia "obtained the removal of the main part of the paragraphs" concerning it, a diplomat said, speaking anonymously.

"The Sanctions Committee gave in," a move raising questions about its independence, he said.

By blocking since early August release of the original document, Russia explained that the report relied mainly on American information and did not take into account a Russian analysis of the application of sanctions.

Washington approves plane, missile sale to S.Korea
Washington (AFP) Sept 14, 2018 - The United States on Thursday approved a new arms sale to South Korea worth $2.6 billion, with denuclearization talks stalled between Washington and the North.

Six Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft worth $2.1 billion form the bulk of the sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

A second contract covers 64 Patriot missiles and support worth $501 million, the agency said.

Congress has 15 days to oppose the sale but that would be unlikely given the close relationship between Seoul and Washington, which stations tens of thousands of its troops on South Korean soil to defend against the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

The P-8A Poseidon, made by Boeing, can be used for intelligence and reconnaissance as well as for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

"The proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing Korea's naval capabilities to provide national defense and significantly contribute to coalition operations," the agency said.

The Patriots, to be made by Texas-based Lockheed-Martin, are designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other airborne threats.

South Korea will use the system "to improve its missile defense capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats to regional stability," the statement said.

"The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region."

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pledged at a historic June summit to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

However, no details were agreed, and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since over what that means and how it will be achieved.