This is John Bachelor speaking with Bruce Bechtel.

He's at Angelo State University.

He is the author of North Korea Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa.

Asking about the decision by Russia recently to veto the panel of experts that

have been monitoring the sanctions regime on North Korea for its missile proliferation, its nuclear weapons proliferation.

The veto means that the Council no longer monitors the sanctions effectiveness, essentially

ending the United Nations Security Council ability to direct or punish

or in some way constrain North Korea in the region and in the world.

Why now Russia and North Korea are doing business, weapons business,

ammunition web business, satellite business, ballistic missile business.

The question to Bruce was, how does this strike Beijing?

Beijing has long held a high hand with Pyongyang and been asked by the US and

others to restrain in some fashion

Pyongyang's provocations in the region.

Bruce's answer is blunt, straightforward.

How does the Russia cooperation with Pyongyang, Russia, and North Korea?

How does that strike Beijing?

Respectel, author of North Korean proliferation in the Middle East in Africa.

Absolutely. In fact, the way I would put it is the relationship between China and Russia

has enabled

augmented the relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang.

It has not hurt that relationship.

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