US, South Korea, Japan Form New Team to Enforce North Korea Sanctions

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team aims to fill the gap left by a UN panel after Russia and China blocked its renewal.

The new team includes eight other countries, such as Britain, France, and Germany, to monitor North Korea's compliance with international sanctions.
The initiative follows Russia's veto in March against the UN panel that had monitored these sanctions for 15 years, with China abstaining.
Officials from the US, South Korea, and Japan announced the launch at a press conference in Seoul, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The team may lack UN backing but seeks to operate more effectively without interference from Russia and China.
North Korea and Russia deny illicit military transactions, though they have pledged to strengthen military ties.