South Korea at the UN: Russia–DPRK military cooperation violates Security Council resolutions and prolongs the war in Ukraine

At a UN General Assembly session on the situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, Joo Hoong-sa, stated that the military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK violates UN Security Council resolutions and is effectively prolonging the war launched by Moscow. The statement was delivered within the framework of a discussion on the situation in the occupied territories and addressed both the military interaction between the two countries and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict for the civilian population.

South Korea's statement at the UN

According to the diplomat, Seoul "remains seriously concerned" about the military interaction between Moscow and Pyongyang. He emphasized that despite repeated calls to halt such cooperation, it "continues unchanged." Specific manifestations cited included the transfer of weapons, including ballistic missiles, as well as the deployment of military contingents, which, in the assessment of the South Korean representative, pose threats to international peace and security.

Violation of resolutions and a call to end cooperation

The representative of the Republic of Korea noted that these actions constitute a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. In this connection, he called on Moscow and Pyongyang to cease their "illegal military cooperation." The diplomat also stressed that diplomatic engagement is a necessary condition for ending the conflict, which, in his words, "should never have started" and must end "without further delay."

Rising casualties among the civilian population

Separately, Joo Hoong-sa highlighted the sharp rise in the number of casualties among Ukraine's civilian population. According to UN data, in July at least 437 civilians were killed and more than 2,600 were injured as a result of Russian attacks. The diplomat noted that these figures are the highest since May 2022, which, in his view, further indicates escalation and the need to halt hostilities.

Context: the transfer of North Korean troops to Russia

The statement came against the backdrop of reports of a continuing buildup of the DPRK military presence in Russia. A week earlier, Deputy Head of the GRU of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitskyi reported the arrival of new DPRK military personnel in Russia, noting that around 400 drone operators among the North Koreans are already taking part in combat operations on Moscow's side. The media also reported on preparations for a new transfer of DPRK troops to Russia, although, according to available data, there are no signs of their immediate deployment.

Attention to the occupied territories and displaced children

Summing up his statement, the South Korean representative called for special attention to the temporarily occupied territories, where the civilian population remains particularly vulnerable to rights violations and security threats. He also underscored the importance of the issue of returning forcibly displaced children and other civilians who are currently far from their families.