On the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attending the Security Council meeting on the 24th (local time), criticized Russia for making North Korea and Iran accomplices in war crimes. South Korea’s representative, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed serious concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and urged the international community to take action.
According to The New York Times (NYT) and others, President Zelensky stated at the Security Council meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York on the first day of the high-level week of the General Assembly that "Russia is committing international crimes." He pointed out that "there is no legitimate reason for Russia to make Iran and North Korea de facto accomplices in the war crimes occurring in Europe," highlighting that Russia is attacking Ukraine with North Korean missiles. This criticism centers on North Korea and Iran providing weapons for the war in Ukraine, thus becoming accomplices in war crimes.
President Zelensky said, "This war cannot simply disappear, nor can it be resolved through dialogue," and called for international support, emphasizing that "action is needed." He acknowledged that "there are countries that want to talk with Putin," but stressed, "Peace must be imposed on Russia. Imposing peace on Russia is exactly what we need." According to the NYT, the Security Council meeting was added at the last minute at Ukraine’s proposal, fearing that their own war would be excluded from the agenda as this year’s UN General Assembly’s attention focused on Middle East issues.
On the same day, President Zelensky also said he had obtained information that Russia plans to attack three nuclear power plants in Ukraine. He warned, "We have evidence of this," and "Russia is prepared to go that far. What you value is not important to Russia." Additionally, he reiterated a request to lift restrictions on the use of long-range missiles provided by Western allies so that Ukraine can attack Russia. Earlier, the European Union (EU) had expressed its intention to hold related discussions with the Group of Seven (G7) during this UN General Assembly.
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, attending the Security Council meeting as the U.S. representative, stated, "Support from Tehran and Pyongyang is helping Putin massacre innocent Ukrainian people, inflict suffering, and cause destruction," adding, "These countries are violating multiple Security Council resolutions." He also targeted China, saying "It is not only North Korea and Iran that are aiding and abetting Russia. China is the largest supplier of machine tools, small electronic devices, and other products, which Russia uses to rebuild, replenish stock, and strengthen its war equipment to continue brutal attacks," accusing China. In response, Wang Yi, Director of the Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office (also serving as Foreign Minister), rebutted the U.S. claims by stating, "China did not create the Ukraine crisis and is not a party to either side."
South Korea’s representative, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, attending the Security Council meeting, expressed serious concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, criticizing, "It is deplorable that Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council and a founding member of the (nuclear) non-proliferation regime, is violating Security Council resolutions by engaging in illegal arms transactions with North Korea." He said, "Any cooperation that directly or indirectly supports North Korea’s military capabilities clearly violates relevant Security Council resolutions and weakens the non-proliferation regime," urging North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions and respond to their dialogue proposals.
President Zelensky also attended the Security Council meeting during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly last year, denouncing Russia’s war responsibility and urging UN action. He is expected to once again criticize Russia’s war crimes and request international support in his general debate speech on the 25th.
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