On Friday, the United States, Britain, and France confronted Russia at the United Nations Security Council over accusations that Moscow is violating an arms embargo on North Korea by using missiles and munitions from Pyongyang in its war against Ukraine. Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, rejected these accusations, calling them "completely false." The meeting of the council followed Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a treaty last week with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un regarding mutual military support in the event of armed aggression.
The U.S. also criticized China on Friday, stating that it should use its connections with North Korea and Russia to protect regional and global security and to end "this increasingly dangerous military cooperation" between the two countries. Robert Wood, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN, urged his Chinese counterparts to recognize that if the situation on the Korean Peninsula continues on its current path, the United States and its allies will have to take steps to defend their security, without going into further details.
China firmly rejects U.S. accusations of encouraging North Korea by not condemning Russia's actions. Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Geng Shuang, stated, "The current situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense. How did this happen?... The U.S. should reflect carefully, particularly on its own actions, instead of blaming others and shirking responsibility as is its habit."
China and Russia claim that the joint military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea provoke North Korea, while Washington accuses both Beijing and Moscow of encouraging North Korea by shielding it from other United Nations sanctions. Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, and France are the five permanent members of the Security Council and have veto power.
Nebenzya dismissed the council meeting called by the U.S., France, Britain, South Korea, and Japan, describing it as an attempt "to spread baseless allegations to divert attention from its destructive actions." He stated, "Our cooperation with Pyongyang is constructive and legitimate in nature, which is very important. No one is threatened unlike the military activities of the U.S. and its allies."
North Korean Ambassador to the UN, Song Kim, also sought to reassure, stating that unless someone plans to invade North Korea or Russia, "there is absolutely no need to worry about the development of our bilateral relations." He commented in the council, "The relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Russia are peaceful and entirely defensive in nature, as they do not aim at a third party but rather promote the progress and welfare of the peoples of both countries."
China's response to last week’s agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang was cautious, and it did not refer to it during the Security Council meeting.
