Pyongyang: North Korea’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui has labeled a newly formed multilateral sanctions monitoring team led by the United States as “utterly unlawful and illegitimate,” according to state media reports on Sunday.
This multinational team, comprising the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, was announced on Wednesday to oversee the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea after Russia and China hindered monitoring activities at the United Nations. The initiative follows Russia’s decision in March to block the annual renewal of a U.N. panel of experts that had monitored sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs for the past 15 years. China, North Korea’s primary ally and economic partner, abstained from voting on the matter.
Tensions have escalated on the Korean Peninsula in recent years as North Korea intensifies its development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, leading to increased international sanctions and bolstered military relations with Russia. In response, Washington has been enhancing its security cooperation with regional allies South Korea and Japan.
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui stated via the state news agency KCNA that “the forces involved in the smear campaign against the DPRK will have to pay a dear price for it.” Choe criticized the newly established team, which will include representatives from eight other countries, describing it as Washington’s violation of international norms and “the most undisguised violation” of North Korea’s sovereignty.
Both Washington and Seoul have expressed concerns regarding North Korea’s deepening military ties with Moscow. On Friday, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported that North Korea has sent 1,500 special forces troops to Russia’s Far East for training at local military bases, potentially preparing for deployment in the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, both Russia and North Korea have denied any involvement in arms transfers. The Kremlin has dismissed South Korean claims of North Korean military personnel being sent to assist in the conflict against Ukraine.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated he could not confirm reports of North Korean troops being dispatched to Russia for potential deployment in Ukraine, but he added that such developments would be concerning if verified.
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In related news, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his willingness to foster friendship and cooperation with North Korea to achieve “sustainable and stable development” and contribute to “safeguarding regional and global peace,” according to North Korean state media on Sunday. Xi’s message came in a reply to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, congratulating him on the anniversary of China’s founding, as reported by KCNA.
