China and Russia stood firm in defending their vetoes of a recent U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would have tightened North Korea sanctions on Wednesday, as more than 70 countries spoke in the U.N. General Assembly to debate a failed Council vote for the first time.

A new rule instituted earlier this year requires the General Assembly to meet within two weeks after a veto is cast at the UNSC, the only organ of the U.N. that can pass binding resolutions on member states. China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-led resolution to tighten North Korea sanctions late last month, prompting this week’s debate in New York.