TAIPEI, Taiwan – North Korea’s U.N. envoy declined to deny or confirm that his country had sent troops to Russia to help with its war against Ukraine, adding that the North will “fulfill obligations” under a North Korea-Russia treaty.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a landmark treaty on a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” on June 19 in Pyongyang after summit talks, which includes a mutual defense assistance clause that applies in the case of “aggression” against either of the signatories.
In response to a question from the U.S. deputy ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood regarding Pyongyang’s troop dispatch to Russia, the North’s Kim Song said: “We will faithfully fulfill our obligations under the North Korea-Russia Treaty.”
“The ‘Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ between North Korea and Russia is fully in accordance with international law and the U.N. Charter. Therefore, North Korea will faithfully maintain its obligations under this treaty,” said Kim at the Security Council meeting held at the U.N. headquarters on Wednesday.
The U.S. and South Korea have said that North Korean troops have been fighting in Russia’s southwestern Kursk border region against Ukrainian forces who occupied parts of it in early August. The U.S. has estimated that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers had been sent to Kursk and they had begun combat operations alongside Russian forces.
Neither Russia nor North Korea have confirmed the presence of North Korean troops.
Kim added that North Korea and Russia were developing bilateral relations in all areas, including politics, economy, military, and culture, in accordance with their treaty.
“North Korea will faithfully fulfil its obligations under the treaty and strengthen relations to protect the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, contribute to regional and cooperative peace and security, and realise international justice,” said Kim.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, permanent representative of Ukraine to the U.N., accused Kim of “representing a rogue regime that aids other rogue nations” and said his remarks were “pulp fiction.”
“I stayed in my seat in the conference hall to look Kim in the eye and say these words,” he said. “Soon, you and your leader will be judged, and soon, the people of your country will be free and enjoy democracy and freedom.”
New batch of ballistic missiles
Separately, U.S. representative Wood said North Korea was preparing to deliver a new batch of ballistic missiles to Russia, adding to the more than 100 already supplied, which Russia has used to attack Ukraine.
“The DPRK is preparing to transfer even more ballistic missiles,” said Wood, adding that North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as it is officially known, had previously illegally supplied Russia with over 18,000 containers of ammunition and related materials, as well as more than 100 ballistic missiles.
“All of which have been used to strike populated areas like Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia,” said the U.S. ambassador.
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Wood added that the U.S. had information indicating that Russia was using a significant number of 170-mm self-propelled artillery systems and 240-mm multiple rocket launchers produced by North Korea on the front lines.
In exchange, Russia has provided North Korea with air defense systems, alongside other supplies, including fuel, technology, and dual-use equipment, according to Wood.
Wood’s remarks echo South Korea’s confirmation last week that North Korea had exported additional artillery ammunition and launchers to Russia.
North Korea was suspected of sending weapons to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine well before their June defense pact.
South Korea said last month that North Korea was believed to have sent about 7,000 containers of weapons to Russia over the previous two months, bringing the total number of containers to 20,000.
Edited by RFA Staff.