Korean envoy condemns Houthi attacks, urges tougher UN sanctions

WASHINGTON — Korea has condemned recent deadly attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea, calling on the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions to cut off weapons supplies to the group. Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon made the remarks during a Security Council debate on the Middle East held Thursday, warning that the attacks pose serious threats to global peace, maritime security and energy supplies. "We condemn such attacks and urge an immediate halt to all attacks against civilians," Cha said during the debate. "We call on this council to strengthen sanctions, to effectively cut off the supply of weapons to the Houthis." Cha said the Houthis' recent attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and threats to commercial navigation in the Red Sea were posing "severe risks to global peace as well as maritime and energy security." The attacks included two consecutive strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh last week, further escalating tensions in the Middle East. The first,