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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States expressed grave concerns during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday regarding Russia’s potential acceptance of a nuclear-capable North Korea, as both Moscow and Pyongyang defended their increasing partnership.
In a statement made in September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Moscow no longer viewed the denuclearization of North Korea as a viable goal, highlighting Pyongyang’s belief that nuclear arms serve as a crucial component of its defense strategy.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield articulated serious apprehensions, stating, “Alarmingly, we assess that Russia may be close to accepting North Korea’s nuclear-weapons program, reversing Moscow’s decades-long commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.” She warned that this shift could lead Moscow to become increasingly reluctant to criticize North Korea’s nuclear advancements or support sanctions against its provocative actions.
Criticism of Lavrov’s remarks came from various quarters, including South Korea and the United Kingdom. James Kariuki, Britain’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador, condemned Lavrov’s stance as a “reckless departure from the agreed principle of complete, verifiable, and irreversible disarmament.”
Addressing the council, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia refrained from discussing North Korea’s nuclear program but emphasized that Russia’s expanding relationship with Pyongyang was a matter of national sovereignty. He remarked, “Russian cooperation with the DPRK … is in accordance with international law,” rejecting any implications that it threatens regional stability.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia’s diplomatic and military ties with North Korea have strengthened, with high-profile visits exchanged between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un of North Korea.
Reports indicate that North Korean troops are reportedly being utilized by Russia in its conflict with Ukrainian forces.
Kim Song, North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador, characterized the enhanced cooperation with Russia as a “positive contribution to international peace and security,” whilst asserting that the potential for nuclear conflict in Northeast Asia is becoming inevitable rather than unlikely.
South Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Joonkook Hwang alerted the Security Council to potential rising tensions, particularly as the U.S. prepares for a second presidential term for Donald Trump. He noted a historical pattern of provocative actions by North Korea during U.S. administrative transitions, suggesting that upcoming months might see renewed missile tests or even nuclear developments aimed at drawing attention to Pyongyang’s strategic interests.
North Korea has been subjected to U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2006, with these measures being incrementally tightened over time in an effort to curtail its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
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