US Indirectly Admits North Korea Deployed Troops in Response to UN Question on Russia Deployment

UN Ambassador of Ukraine: "Criminal Regime Will Be Judged"

At the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on the 27th (local time), during a Security Council meeting, when the US representative asked the North Korean representative whether there was a deployment of troops to Russia, the North Korean representative indirectly admitted the deployment by responding, "We will faithfully fulfill the obligations of the North Korea-Russia treaty."

Robert Wood, the US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, said at the Security Council meeting held on the Ukraine situation, "The nature of the war has fundamentally changed due to North Korea's deployment of troops to assist Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine," adding, "This is causing an increased threat not only to Ukraine but also to broader European security." He then posed a sudden question to Kim Song, North Korea's Ambassador to the UN, saying, "This is a very simple question. I believe the Security Council also expects a clear and straightforward answer," and asked, "Has North Korea deployed troops to Russia?"

In response, Ambassador Kim did not deny the troop deployment and said, "The 'Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between North Korea and Russia fully complies with international law and the UN Charter," adding, "Therefore, North Korea will faithfully uphold its obligations under this treaty." This was effectively an acknowledgment of the troop deployment, and it was reported that Ambassador Kim appeared visibly flustered by Deputy Ambassador Wood's question.

Previously, North Korea had also indirectly admitted to deploying troops to Russia. On the 25th of last month, Kim Jong-gyu, Deputy Minister in charge of Russia at North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "We have taken note of the recent international media reports about our military's deployment to Russia," adding, "If such a thing exists, we believe it would be an action consistent with international legal norms."

Following Deputy Ambassador Wood's remarks, Serhiy Olehovych Kyslytsya, Ukraine's Ambassador to the UN, sharply criticized Ambassador Kim's Security Council statement as "pulp fiction." Staring at Ambassador Kim seated to his right, Kyslytsya said, "I stayed in the meeting room to say this while looking directly into the eyes of the North Korean representative," and criticized, "He represents a criminal regime that aids another criminal regime." He then raised his voice, saying, "Soon, you and your leader will be judged," and "Soon, your people will be free to enjoy democracy and freedom."

Hwang Jun-guk, South Korea's Ambassador to the UN, emphasized that the international community must unite to immediately call for the cessation of the illegal cooperation between Russia and North Korea.