North Korea denounces a UN monitoring group’s report on its military ties with Russia, calling it a violation of sovereignty. The report alleges illegal arms cooperation, sparking a strong rebuke from Pyongyang and a defense from South Korea, emphasizing the need to uphold UN Security Council sanctions.
Pyongyang has strongly criticized a recent report by a UN-affiliated monitoring group that highlights illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The report, released Thursday by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), outlines alleged violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea’s banned nuclear and missile programs.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a senior official from North Korea’s foreign ministry denounced the MSMT, calling it a “bogus group” lacking legal legitimacy. The official accused the MSMT of committing a “political provocation” by fabricating claims that interfere with the North’s sovereign affairs. “This is a wanton violation of international legal principles such as sovereign equality and non-interference,” the official stated.
North Korea further asserted that the MSMT serves Western geopolitical interests, especially those of the United States and its allies. It labeled the group a “political tool” without the authority to investigate or challenge the sovereign decisions of other nations. The North issued a stern warning regarding the potential consequences of what it called “reckless acts.”
The MSMT was established in October last year, following the dissolution of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions. It was set up by South Korea and the United States to maintain oversight on compliance with UN sanctions against Pyongyang, particularly in light of growing concerns over North Korea-Russia cooperation amid the Ukraine conflict.
South Korea’s foreign ministry defended the MSMT, saying its operations are in full accordance with international law and the obligations of UN member states. In a statement reported by Yonhap News Agency, the ministry emphasized that any military cooperation between North Korea and Russia constitutes a “clear violation” of legally binding UN Security Council resolutions.
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Rejecting Pyongyang’s sovereignty argument as “absurd,” Seoul reiterated that UN member states are bound to respect and implement the Council’s resolutions. South Korea further underlined the necessity of continuing international monitoring, especially as North Korea accelerates its weapons development and deepens its ties with Moscow.
The escalating war of words underscores the growing geopolitical tensions surrounding North Korea’s arms dealings, as well as the challenges in enforcing international sanctions in a shifting global landscape.
