Russia questions why West can support Kyiv but North Korea can’t back Moscow

Russia’s representative to the United Nations on Wednesday raised questions regarding the stance of Western nations, arguing why allies like North Korea should not be allowed to assist Moscow in its conflict with Ukraine if the West claims the right to support Kyiv.

At a Security Council meeting, Russia's Vassily Nebenzia faced strong criticism from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Ukraine, and other nations. These countries accused Russia of breaching UN resolutions and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter by involving North Korean troops (DPRK) in support of Moscow.

South Korea’s UN Ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, said, “Supporting an act of aggression, which completely violates the principles of the UNCharter, is illegal. Any activities that are entailed with the DPRK's dispatch of troops to Russia are clear violations of multiple UNSecurity Council Resolutions.”

Add WION as a Preferred Source

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops were already stationed in eastern Russia and might soon be engaged in combat operations within Russia’s Kursk region, near Ukraine’s border.

Nebenzia defended Russia’s cooperation with North Korea, arguing it does not breach international laws. While Russia has not refuted the deployment of North Korean soldiers, which aligns with its ongoing conflict in Ukrainesince February 2022.

He questioned, “Even if everything that's being said about the cooperation between Russia and North Korea by our Western colleagues is true, why is it that the United States and allies are trying to impose on everyone the flawed logic that they have the right to help the Zelenskiy regime ... and Russian allies have no right to do a similar thing.”

Ukraine’s UN Ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said, “None of the countries that provide assistance to Ukraine is under Security Council sanctions,” and added that obtaining support from a fully-sanctioned North Korea is a “brazen violation of the UN Charter.”

He continued, “Sending the DPRK troops to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law.”

North Korea’s UN Ambassador, Song Kim, said, “If Russia's sovereignty and security interests are exposed to and threatened by continued dangerous attempts of the United States and the West, and if it is judged that we should respond to them with something, we will make a necessary decision."

Since 2006, North Korea has been under UN Security Council sanctions, which have been tightened over the years to deter its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. While North Korea has not confirmed sending troops to Russia, it claims that any such decision would comply with international standards.

(With inputs from agencies)