The US, South Korea, and Japan Strongly Condemn North Korea-Russia Arms Deal as a UN Security Council Violation

Call to Suspend Negotiations

The ambassadors of South Korea, the United States, and Japan to the United Nations strongly urged on the 30th (local time) the suspension of negotiations, stating that arms transactions between North Korea and Russia violate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, stated at a press conference held at the UN headquarters in New York that day, "Russia is negotiating with North Korea to import a significant amount of various types of ammunition intended for use against Ukraine." She criticized the arms transaction negotiations between North Korea and Russia as a violation of UNSC resolutions that prohibit all forms of arms transactions with North Korea.

The joint declaration announced that day included participation from South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The press conference was also attended by Hwang Joon-kook, South Korea’s ambassador to the UN, and Ishikane Kimihiro, Japan’s ambassador.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also warned Russia, saying, "It will violate multiple sanctions resolutions related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile launches, including those UNSC resolutions that Russia itself supported and that were passed unanimously by the Security Council." She added, "If North Korea sells weapons to Russia, it could send the wrong message to nuclear proliferation seekers that Russia will defend and even permit North Korea’s nuclear weapons development," criticizing, "Repeated behavior that supports regimes attempting nuclear proliferation while ignoring responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council is unacceptable."

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield emphasized, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation on issues related to North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," adding, "This is an urgent matter concerning international peace and security."

Furthermore, the three countries pointed out that there is clear evidence that Russia imported Iranian drones and used them in attacks on Ukraine, calling it a violation of UNSC resolutions containing arms embargo measures on Iranian weapons.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.