We condemn in the strongest possible terms North Korea’s export and Russian acquisition of ballistic missiles from North Korea, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine on December 30 2023 and January 2, 2024. The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s war of aggression and undermines the international non-proliferation regime. Russia’s use of North Korea’s ballistic missiles in Ukraine also provides valuable technical and military information to North Korea. We are gravely concerned about the security implications of this cooperation in Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the broader Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
Together, our governments resolutely oppose arms transfers between North Korea and Russia. The transfer of ballistic missiles and any other related weapons or materiel between North Korea and Russia constitutes a flagrant violation of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009). and 2270 (2016), which Russia itself supported. We are closely monitoring what Russia provides to North Korea in return for these arms transfers. We call on North Korea and Russia to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and immediately cease all activities that contravene them.
We urge all UN Member States, including members of the UN Security Council, to join us in condemning Russia and North Korea’s flagrant violations of Security Council resolutions. As Russia launches multiple waves of missiles and drones against the Ukrainian population, we will remain united in our support for Ukraine. We also ask North Korea to respond favorably to the numerous and sincere proposals made to it to return to diplomacy, the only solution to achieve lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.
This article is originally published on diplomatie.gouv.fr
