The United States has imposed sanctions on Russian entities involved in transferring military equipment and components between North Korea and Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Thursday.
In a statement, Miller emphasized that Russia has increasingly relied on North Korea to support its war efforts in Ukraine, asserting that this relationship poses significant threats to global security and the international non-proliferation regime. “The United States is today imposing sanctions on five Russia-based individuals and entities connected to the transfer of military equipment and components between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation in violation of the UN arms embargo on the DPRK,” the statement read.
Miller highlighted that Russia has used munitions and ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in its military operations against Ukraine. “Today’s action builds on several sanctions designations over the past year targeting the Russia-DPRK military relationship and highlights our opposition to continued arms transfers and the deepening of defense cooperation between Russia and DPRK,” he added.
The US also condemned Russia’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the UN 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, which documents violations of UN sanctions by North Korea. “The deepening DPRK-Russia relationship poses a wide-ranging threat to global security and the international non-proliferation regime. We condemn Russia’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the UN 1718 Committee Panel of Experts,” the statement said.
The statement underscored the US commitment to countering the destabilizing partnership between Russia and North Korea and called on the international community to join in these efforts.
North Korea and Russia have grown closer over the past year as Pyongyang advances its weapons and nuclear programs while Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine. The United States and South Korea have expressed concerns about North Korea supplying Russia with weapons in exchange for technological expertise.
Efforts to impose new UN sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile tests have been repeatedly blocked by Russia and China, according to Al Jazeera. Additionally, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification noted that North Korea’s gift of a luxury car, Aurus, to Russia also violated UN sanctions. “We condemn North Korea for its brazen attitude of publicly disclosing violations of UN sanctions,” a ministry official said, adding that Russia should recognize its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and cease actions that undermine international norms.
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