US diplomats have stormed out of a United Nations meeting after being compared to North Korean by the French.
The American officials walked out of the UN Security Council meeting on Monday after France criticised them for voting against a proposal to extend the term of Volker Turk, the UN's human rights chief, for a further four years.
Russia, North Korea and seven other countries also voted against Mr Turk's term's extension.
France's UN mission made the comments after a vote on Friday, writing on X: "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated.
"And the world no longer listens to it. #AmericaAlone."
America's ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, hit back at France at a meeting on Monday, saying they were defending a human rights chief who "cosies up to the world's worst oppressors" while criticising democratic nations such as the US and Israel.
Mr Waltz did not further expand his point.
Dan Negrea, Mr Waltz's colleague, said the US delegation had left the UN Security Council meeting after France's comments and would remain absent until the French "renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric".
US ambassador to the UN Dan Negrea said America's delegation would remain absent until the French 'renounce their rhetoric'
|REUTERS
He called France's remarks "politicised drivel" and "disingenuous grandstanding".
He said: "Today, I remind them that it is the United States that remains the beacon of liberty for the world.
"As such, we will not be affording them the benefit of listening to their politicised drivel until they renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric and behave in a manner commensurate with their seat on this council."
The meeting was set up to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine upon Kyiv's request after large-scale attacks on the capital earlier this month.
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Volker Turk, an Austrian lawyer, has been the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since October 2022
|REUTERS
France's UN ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, did not acknowledge the walkout from their US counterparts but instead noted how the French took part in America's 250th anniversary on July 4.
He said: "The United Nations was created with the goal of working towards international peace and security, human rights and development.
"All of that forms the spirit in which France works within the United Nations … to preserve this institution, its independence, its ability to act in service of the charter and act to serve human rights and peace."
The UN General Assembly voted resoundingly in favour of extending Mr Turk's term on Friday.
It passed with 144 states in favour, with 10 votes against and 13 abstentions.
Mr Turk has criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine and also Israel's actions in Gaza.
He has also called for investigations into detainee deaths in US immigration custody.
The US, on top of voting against Mr Turk's extension in the role, has also threatened to review its funding and engagement with the UN.
Jeff Bartos, the US's ambassador to the UN, said Mr Turk's reappointment will bear "consequences" to the Assembly, saying it "tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals and the misuse of UN posts".
Washington has already cut funding to UN agencies and dropped out of a number of UN entities.
Mr Bonnafont described Mr Turk as "a voice of conscience".
Farhan Haq, the UN's deputy spokesman, declined to comment on the US's walkout.
He did say the UN expected all member states to respect a decision made via the General Assembly.