U.S. President Biden is expected to raise a proposal to reform the UN Security Council (Security Council) on the occasion of the UN General Assembly to counter the "abuse of veto" power by Russia and China.

John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications at the US White House, said in an interview with the British media The Telegraph reported on the 17th (local time) that President Biden will ask UN member states to "look into the structure of the Security Council."

President Biden addresses the United Nations General Assembly today (19).

"You're going to hear President Biden talk about that this week, but we've been clear that we think it's time to look at the structure of the Security Council," Kirby said.

When asked if the U.S. would propose amendments to the veto rules or changes to the structure of its membership, Kirby said, "I think it's time for us to discuss the structure of that organization, and we think the Security Council needs to be more inclusive and more inclusive."

Asked if that meant a change to the veto, Kirby added, "I think it's just time for us to talk about the structure of the organization, and I think President Biden, the United States, will support the expansion of the membership."

The Telegraph reported that the United States is currently pursuing a plan to add five or six new permanent members of the Security Council, including India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan, to the Security Council's five permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France.

Currently, the UN Security Council consists of five permanent members and 5 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Since the five permanent members hold veto power, North Korea's recent series of ballistic missile launches did not result in the tightening of sanctions at the Security Council level amid opposition from China and Russia, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which violates the UN Charter, could not be properly responded to at the UN level.

Therefore, it has been pointed out that the Security Council reform to check the "abuse" of veto power by China and Russia, in addition to expanding the number of members of the Security Council, should also touch the Security Council rules, which cannot be voted on if even one of the five permanent members vetoes it.

Separately, in a meeting with reporters in New York, where the UN General Assembly is being held on 5 May, Kirby said that the United States has no plans to hold bilateral talks with Russia on the occasion of the UN General Assembly.

He also said President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet "at the appropriate time," adding, "We're not there yet."

Still, he added, "things are going in a good direction."

(Photo = AP, Yonhap News)