Russia accuses West of attempting to ‘strangle’ North Korea – after Moscow blocks deal to monitor sanctions
We brought you news yesterday of Russia vetoing the annual renewal of a deal to monitor the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea.
Now, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman has accused the West of attempting to “strangle” the secretive state.
The UN imposed sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang carried out its first nuclear test in 2006.
However, on Thursday, Russia vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts to monitor the enforcement of those sanctions.
Moscow has in recent years sought to strengthen its ties to North Korea – having become alienated from the West due to its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In a sign of the strengthening ties, Vladimir Putin visited the country last year.
At the time, experts suggested that the Russian president was seeking weapons to bolster his Ukraine campaign, perhaps in return for help with North Korea’s rocket and satellite programme.
On Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman
Maria Zakharova said international restrictions on North Korea had not improved the
security situation.
She also said there were severe humanitarian
consequences for the population of North Korea – formally known
as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“The United States and its allies have clearly
demonstrated that their interest does not extend beyond the task
of ‘strangling’ the DPRK by all available means, and a peaceful
settlement is not on the agenda at all,” she said.
The Russian veto is seen as a major turning point in the
international sanctions regime against North Korea, which was
formed in 1948 with the backing of the then-Soviet Union while
the Republic of Korea was backed by the United States.