Russia’s envoy to the United Nations (UN), Vassily Nebenzia, asked the Security Council on Wednesday, the 30th of October, why its allies, such as North Korea, cannot help Moscow in its war against Ukraine if Western countries claim they have the right to help Kyiv, and faced tough arguments from the US, Britain, South Korea, Ukraine and others, who accused Russia of violating UN resolutions and statutes by sending troops from North Korea (DPRK) to help in the war, reports Reuters.
“It is illegal to support aggression that completely violates the principles of the UN Charter,” said South Korea’s ambassador to the UN, Jong-kook Hwang. “Any actions related to the DPRK sending troops to Russia are in clear violation of several UN Security Council resolutions.”
Some 10 000 North Korean troops are already in eastern Russia, apparently to be used to support combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region, the Pentagon has said.
Nebenzia said that Russia’s military interaction with North Korea does not violate international law. Russia has not denied the involvement of North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine.
“Even if everything our Western colleagues say about Russian-North Korean cooperation is true, why are the US and allies trying to impose on everyone the false logic that they have the right to help the Zelenskyy regime … and Russia’s allies have no right to do similar things,” Nebenzia said.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsya, replied: “None of the countries providing assistance to Ukraine are under Security Council sanctions.”
“Receiving aid from North Korea, which is under full sanctions, is a blatant violation of the UN Charter,” he added. “The sending of troops by the DPRK to support Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law.”
North Korea has been under UN Security Council sanctions since 2006, and these measures have been continuously strengthened over the years to stop Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
North Korea has not recognised the deployment of troops in Russia but has stated that any such move would be in line with international law.
“If Russia’s sovereignty and security interests are exposed and threatened by the continued dangerous efforts of the US and the West, and if it is decided that we must respond in some way, we will take the necessary decision,” North Korean Ambassador to the UN Song Kim told the council.
“Pyongyang and Moscow are in close contact with each other regarding mutual security and the development of the situation,” he said.
However, US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un: “If DPRK troops come to Ukraine to support Russia, they will surely come back in body bags. I would therefore advise Chairman Kim to think twice about such a reckless and dangerous move.”
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Ukraine should strike back if North Korean troops crossed into Ukrainian territory.