US State Department: "North Korea's Deployment of Troops to Russia Violates Security Council Resolution"

The U.S. government stated on the 29th (local time) that North Korean troops being deployed by Russia, which invaded Ukraine, is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, said on the day, "Russia training North Korean soldiers is a direct violation of Security Council (North Korea sanctions) Resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2270."

He explained, "Providing or receiving training or support related to ballistic missiles or other weapons by North Korean troops is not only a continued violation by Russia and North Korea of the UN arms export ban measures but also a breach of these provisions."

Regarding the possibility that sanctions against Russia and North Korea may be difficult due to Russia's veto power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Miller said, "We maintain the capability to impose sanctions on both Russia and North Korea," adding, "We have shown in the past that we have the willingness to use this capability and authority, and we will do so when appropriate in the future."

However, concerning the possibility of sanctions through the 'Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team' (MSMT), recently launched by 11 countries led by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, he stated, "The MSMT is a mechanism that investigates, analyzes, and publicly reports on the implementation status of UN sanctions on North Korea," and "It is not itself a sanctions-imposing mechanism."

The UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which Miller confirmed as violated by Russia and North Korea on this day, was adopted after North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006. It imposed financial and economic sanctions along with bans on the export of weapons such as nuclear and missile technology. The stronger Resolution 1874 includes prohibitions on the import and export of weapons and related materials, financial transactions related to supply, manufacture, maintenance, and use, technical training, and advisory services. Resolution 2270, enacted in response to the fourth nuclear test and long-range rocket launch in April 2016, includes measures to prevent education related to nuclear and missile development.