North Korea Denounces International Criticism of 'North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation' as "Provocative Infringement on Sovereignty"

On June 2, North Korea denounced the first report recently released by the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) on the topic of 'North Korea-Russia military cooperation,' calling it "a provocative act by the West aimed at infringing on our sovereign rights." The MSMT is a consultative body composed of 11 countries, including South Korea, the United States, and Japan, established to monitor the implementation of sanctions against North Korea.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on this day, citing a statement from the Director-General of the Foreign Policy Department of North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, titled "Our Efforts to Safeguard the Dignity and Rights of the State Will Not Be Swayed by Anyone's Prejudiced Views or Malicious Criticism." The statement said, "We express serious concern over the West's provocative actions and sternly warn them about the negative consequences their reckless behavior may bring about."

Regarding the dispatch of troops to the Russian military, North Korea argued that it was "a legitimate exercise of sovereign rights in accordance with the treaty on the comprehensive strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia." North Korea further claimed, "There is legitimacy and justification in the current development-oriented North Korea-Russia relationship, as it is based on putting an end to the era in which a handful of countries form illegal, confrontational political-military blocs and act arbitrarily, and instead establishing a truly multipolar world order based on respect for sovereignty, equality, and justice in inter-state relations."

Additionally, North Korea insisted that the MSMT's report was "fabricated" and went on to label it as a "political provocation." The MSMT was launched in October last year after the UN Security Council's Panel of Experts under the North Korea Sanctions Committee was disbanded due to Russia's veto in April 2024. North Korea also criticized the MSMT as "a phantom group without any legitimacy."

On May 29, the MSMT's first report detailed North Korea-Russia military cooperation that violates UN Security Council sanctions, including weapons transfers between North Korea and Russia, troop deployments, and excessive refined petroleum supplies to North Korea.