Government: North Korea's Additional Dispatch to Russia Is a Clear Violation of UN Resolutions... Must Stop Immediately

Regarding North Korea's decision to send an additional 6,000 personnel, including engineering troops and military construction workers, to Russia, the government stated on the 18th, "We express grave concern over the continued illegal cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and urge them to immediately halt such actions."

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The acceptance and employment of North Korean overseas workers is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions." UNSC Resolution 2397 stipulates the obligation to repatriate all North Koreans earning income abroad.

The official added, "Cooperation between Russia and North Korea must be conducted in strict compliance with UNSC resolutions and international law, and should not threaten peace and security on the Korean Peninsula or around the world. The government continues to closely monitor developments related to Russia-North Korea cooperation in coordination with allied countries."

Previously, Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, visited Pyongyang the previous day and met with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un. Russian media subsequently reported that North Korea had agreed to dispatch additional personnel to Russia to help rebuild infrastructure. On the same day, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency also confirmed the meeting between Chairman Kim and Secretary Shoigu, reporting that "within the scope of treaties between the two countries, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has confirmed the content of its cooperation and accepted the related plans."