10 countries and the EU condemned the deployment of DPRK troops in Russia to be used against Ukraine: what they say
Kyiv • UNN
The foreign ministers of 10 countries and the EU condemned military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the deployment of North Korean troops. The countries called on Pyongyang to stop helping Moscow and withdraw its troops.
The heads of diplomacy of 10 countries and the EU condemned military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including the deployment of DPRK troops in Russia for use on the battlefield against Ukraine, and called on Pyongyang to stop helping Moscow and withdraw its troops. The statement was released by the US State Department on Monday, December 16, UNN reports.
Details
"We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the increased military cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation, including the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia for use on the battlefield against Ukraine. Continuing to demonstrate support and unity, we recall and strengthen our coordinated sanctions of May 2024 and the joint statement on cooperation between the DPRK and Russia," the statement reads.
The heads of diplomacy of 10 countries, including the G7 countries, and the EU stated that "the DPRK's direct support for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine means a dangerous expansion of the conflict with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security." "The DPRK's export of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other military equipment to Russia for use against Ukraine, as well as Russia's training of DPRK soldiers using weapons or related materials, are gross violations of UN Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), and 2270 (2016). We are deeply concerned about any political, military, or economic support that Russia may provide to the DPRK's illicit weapons programs, including weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, which will exacerbate the already tense situation on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said.
"Together, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We call on the DPRK to immediately cease all assistance to Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine, including by withdrawing its troops. We call on Russia to immediately end its aggressive war against Ukraine and cease military cooperation with the DPRK. We encourage members of the wider international community to join our call, and we will continue to act in concert, including through economic sanctions, to respond to the danger posed by the DPRK-Russia partnership," the statement reads.
