Russia’s top envoy to the United Nations voiced strong opposition to sanctions against North Korea amid U.S. efforts to impel international action in response to the DPRK’s recent string of missile tests. The remarks come after the U.S. and eight other countries harshly criticized the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) for remaining “silent” on North Korea’s recent missile tests and pushed for more action against Pyongyang. “Secondary sanctions of a major western country create a toxic atmosphere around Pyongyang and result in an unwillingness to cooperate with them even in those areas that do not fall under international restrictions,” Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N. Dmitry Polyanskiy said during a UNSC meeting on Monday. “Sanctions on third country companies and individuals are particularly intolerable,” Polyanskiy added. “Such restrictions are interpreted by us as an encroachment upon sovereignty of states and an intervention in their domestic affairs.” (https://www.nknews.org/2022/02/russias-un-ambassador-slams-new-us-sanctions-against-north-korea/) Russia and China – permanent members of the UNSC – have blocked U.S. and other member states’ efforts to condemn North Korea’s record-setting missile launches last month and expand international sanctions against Pyongyang.