"Feeling Personal Sympathy... North Korean Soldiers' Salaries Will Go to Kim Jong-un's Pocket"
Ambassador Hwang Jun-guk to the United Nations expressed concern that North Korean troops deployed to Russia, which is invading Ukraine, will become mere cannon fodder as legitimate military targets.
On the 30th (local time), Ambassador Hwang stated at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, "I feel personal sympathy for those who, if born south of the Demilitarized Zone, could have enjoyed a much better life."
He criticized, "The wages that the North Korean troops receive from Russia will end up in Kim Jong-un's pocket," adding, "The North Korean regime, which uses its own people as expendable goods, must never be forgiven."
Ambassador Hwang reiterated that the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is illegal and violates multiple Security Council resolutions.
He said, "The unprecedented military cooperation between North Korea and Russia will bring significant changes to the geopolitics of both the eastern and western Eurasian regions," and added, "South Korea will closely cooperate with the international community to firmly respond to the illegal North Korea-Russia military cooperation and take appropriate measures corresponding to the developments of the situation."
On this day, the Security Council convened to discuss maintaining peace and security in Ukraine, including the recent issue of North Korea's troop deployment to Russia.
Miroslav Jen?a, UN Under-Secretary-General, attended the briefing and said regarding North Korea's deployment to Russia, "The UN does not have additional detailed information nor is it in a position to verify or confirm the claims raised," but emphasized, "We urge all relevant parties to refrain from any actions that could lead to an escalation or intensification of the war in Ukraine."
On the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense also expressed concern about the possibility of North Korean troops deployed to Russia being involved in combat against Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a press conference, "It is not certain whether North Korean troops will be deployed in combat, but there are clearly 10,000 soldiers, and some of them are moving westward toward the Ukrainian border, so there is a possibility of deployment to the battlefield," adding, "We will not speculate but will observe and gather evidence."
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