N-Korea criticizes ‘hostile’ Western statement on relations with Russia
(MENAFN) North Korea has strongly criticized a recent report by a Western-led sanctions monitoring group that accuses Pyongyang of unlawful military collaboration with Russia. The report, issued by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Group (MSMT), has been condemned by North Korea as a "political provocation" and an infringement on its sovereignty.
The MSMT, established by the United States and South Korea to oversee the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea, claims Pyongyang has been involved in activities such as weapons transfers to Russia, troop movements, military training, excess fuel shipments, and financial coordination. These actions, according to the report, are violations of UN Security Council resolutions aimed at limiting North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
Citing intelligence from its 11 member nations and publicly available data, the MSMT alleges that North Korea and Russia’s cooperation undermines international sanctions. Pyongyang, however, dismissed the MSMT as an illegitimate and politically motivated entity acting in the interests of Western powers. It described the group as a “ghost organization” and accused it of meddling in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.
In a statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s Foreign Ministry labeled the report as a fabrication and condemned it as a hostile, biased action. It maintained that its partnership with Russia is a lawful exercise of sovereign rights under the UN Charter and is intended to promote regional security and stability.
The controversy follows the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and North Korea in June 2024. The pact includes provisions for mutual military and other support in case of an armed attack. Shortly after, reports emerged of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia’s Kursk Region during conflict with Ukraine. These deployments were later confirmed by both Moscow and Pyongyang.
Russia has yet to respond publicly to the MSMT's findings. Meanwhile, Russian officials have previously denounced the MSMT, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling it an illegal body formed without UN approval, following the dissolution of the official UN Panel of Experts on North Korea due to a Russian veto.
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