Non-proliferation / Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Security Council, 9820th meeting

The 9,820th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is non-proliferation, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Ukraine to participate in this meeting. The representative for Russia has asked for the floor.

Madam President, we wish to raise a point of order for the record to set out our principled disagreement with the decision undertaken by the presidency to invite Ukraine to participate in this meeting, as well as under Rule 39, the representatives of the European Union and the NGO Conflict Armament Research representative. The US presidency this month, from the very first weeks up until the present day, has shattered all of the grim records when it comes to violating the practices of the work of the Security Council, transforming meetings of the Security Council into a politicized act of buffoonery. We are under the strong impression that our U.S. colleagues have forgotten that the Security Council is not a Democratic Party convention. In this chamber, there is a need to comply with the rules that have been established for the advancement of the authority of the Security Council and to ensure the effectiveness of its work. For three weeks already, each day we have observed at the Security Council that there has been a number of individuals trotted out under Rule 39. Their authority is, to put it mildly, dubious, and they are blatantly advancing the manual, the political manuals of Washington. And at the same time, we learn about these individuals just on the eve of these statements, which prevents any discussion about the feasibility of inviting these individuals. This is disrespect for the Security Council, its rules, procedures, and a complete waste of our time and attention. Mr. John Leff, we have already heard Mr. John Leff this past June when he tried to persuade the Security Council of the North Korean origin of missiles on his pictures. The Conflict Armament Research Organization, which he represents, is financed by NATO and the European Union. Can we expect, therefore, any independent or impartial assessments from this individual? Of course not. It is completely clear whose political interests this particular NGO is advancing. The methodology of its work is highly primitive. Experts have seen that this is proposed by the Ukrainian prosecutor general and defense ministry. And for the basis of the conclusions, so to speak, the information that is taken is from Ukrainian laboratories and low-quality satellite images. In the assessment of the missile remnants, we see patently conspiralogical versions advanced, such as the production mark date on the North Korean calendar. Uh, such material is of no value when it comes to a serious discussion, uh, provide this to the CNN or the BBC, then there they will assess this and they will gladly broadcast that, but do not bring this to the Security Council of the United Nations. I now turn to the European Union and Ukraine. It is clear that these participants have nothing to do with the agenda item non-proliferation of the DPRK. They have nothing to do with this regional issue and they will provide no meaningful contribution to the discussion. Also, what is clear is that the only goal of their presence at the Security Council is to politicize the Security Council and to rehash the baseless allegations advanced by Western members of the Security Council with clearly at the level of cheap press reports. This all undermines the authority of the Security Council and undermines trust and confidence in the resolutions and decisions undertaken by the Council. Thank you.

I thank the Russian Federation for their statement and I give the floor to the Republic of Korea.

Madam President, I support the briefing by the CAR. Mr. Leff already made a presentation at the meeting on the DPRK in June during the ROK presidency. At that time, most of us found his presentation informative and relevant. I also support the EU and Ukraine's participation, given that North Korean ballistic missiles, potential delivery means of nuclear weapons, are launched in the European battlefield, and that the agenda of this meeting is non-proliferation DPRK. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the Republic of Korea for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Thank you, Madam President. As to the CARBRIEFER, the BRIEFER participated in the Security Council meeting in June and provided a very meaningful briefing that detailed the global non-proliferation issues, including the provision of North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia, with evidence-based arguments about the expansion of North Korea's military involvement. Regarding the participation of European Union and Ukraine, the expansion of DPRK's military involvement is no longer a regional issue, but a global concern that also directly affects the situation in Ukraine. It is also obvious that the North Korea participated at the recent Security Council meeting on Ukraine last month, under the rule 37 and we understand that the North Korea itself does not deny its engagement in the situation in Ukraine therefore Japan does not consider the participations of those parties uh to be an issue or even we cons desirable and Japan support the list of speakers being proposed by the presidency thank you good.

I thank the representative of Japan for their statement. I now give the floor to the United Kingdom.

Thanks, President. Clearly, it's important that this council has the best possible evidence to inform its deliberations. But since Russia vetoed the UN panel of experts on 1718, we are forced to look elsewhere for credible civil society organizations to fill this gap. And the Conflict Armament Research Group has a strong record of evidence-based independent reporting, which we believe the council should hear from. As to the EU and Ukraine, there's been, as our Japanese and ROK colleagues have said, substantive evidence of DPRK munitions and missiles being used in Ukraine. We now believe that DPRK troops have engaged in direct combat with Ukrainian forces. So evidently, Ukraine has a reason to participate in this meeting, and so does the EU, given that this is clearly an issue of European security. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom. Is there anyone else who wish to speak? It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting. Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under Secretary General for Political and Peace Building Affairs, and Mr. Jonah Leff, Executive Director, Conflict Armament Research. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Stravos Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item two of the agenda. I now give the floor to Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo.

Thank you. Madam President, I've been asked to brief the Security Council today on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's adherence to the non-proliferation regime and on its military engagements. The DPRK has been actively working towards acquiring new military capabilities in line with the five-year military development plan it unveiled in January 2021. In 2024, the DPRK launched one intercontinental ballistic missile, four intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and multiple short-range ballistic missiles. It also attempted to launch a military reconnaissance satellite. The IRBM launches were associated with the testing of what the DPRK notes to be, and I quote, "hypersonic maneuverable controlled warheads," end quote, and multiple warhead missiles. Also, there are indications that the DPRK continues to actively pursue its nuclear program. In September, DPRK state media reported on an inspection of a uranium enrichment base by the DPRK leader. This appears to corroborate earlier reports about the existence of a second, yet-to-be-declared uranium enrichment plant in Yangseon, in addition to the uranium enrichment plant in Yongbyon. Further, on 20 November, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the Agency observed that the five megawatt reactor to Yongbyon was not operating between mid-August and mid-October. According to IAEA experts, that gap would have provided sufficient time to refuel the reactor and start its seventh operational cycle. Also, in November this year, the DPRK openly displayed its weapon delivery systems during an exhibition in Pyongyang. The authorities showcased the latest solid fuel Hwangsong-19 ICBM, which the DPRK launched for the first time on 31 October. The missile set new records for the longest flight, length and altitude reached by any DPRK ICBM launch. The Hwasong-19 and other weapon systems in the exhibition are produced in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. Their open display demonstrates that the DPRK is far from slowing down its ballistic missile program. The DPRK's pursuit of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs undermines the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. As we approach 2025, the final year of the DPRK's current five-year military plan, we reiterate our calls on the DPRK to fully comply with its international obligations. Madam President, international attention has also recently focused the reported increase in military cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. According to media reports, since 2023, the DPRK has transferred to the Russian Federation more than 13,000 containers of ammunition, missiles, and artillery. The latter include 170 millimeters self-propelled guns and 240 millimeter multiple rocket systems. Russian forces have also reportedly used SRBMs from the DPRK to strike Ukraine. Further, and again based on media reports, more than 10,000 DPRK troops have been sent to the Russian Federation since October, where they have received training and equipment. According to US and Ukrainian officials, they are now deployed in Russia's Kursk region, fighting alongside Russian forces. While the United Nations is not in a position to verify these claims, they are a cause for concern, as noted by the Secretary-General in a 3 November statement. On 18 November, in remarks I delivered on his behalf in the Council, The Secretary-General stressed that the reported deployment of thousands of troops from the DPRK to the conflict zone and their involvement in the fighting adds fuel to the fire, further escalating and internationalizing this explosive conflict. We reiterate our call on all relevant actors to refrain from any steps that may lead to spillover and intensification of the war in Ukraine. Madam President, while the Security Council did not renew the mandate of the panel of experts that supported the committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1718, the DPRK sanctions regime and the committee remain in place. I'd like to reiterate that international engagement with the DPRK is guided by Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087, 2094, 2270, 2321, as well as resolutions 2356, 2371, 2375, and 2397. In line with these resolutions, the DPRK shall cease the export of all arms and related material, and all member states shall prohibit the procurement, of such arms and related material from the DPRK by their nationals. I recall that relevant Security Council resolutions are legally binding for all UN Member States. As the Secretary-General has stated, any relationship that a country has with the DPRK must entirely abide by the relevant Security Council sanctions. We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which have increasingly global ramifications. It is imperative that this Council act decisively to uphold the non-proliferation regime and international norms. The situation on the Korean Peninsula, a key peace and security issue, must be an area for cooperation. The Secretary-General has consistently called for de-escalation and the urgent resumption of talks. Diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this respect, we welcome the willingness and offers to engage in dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions. We also recall the Security Council's commitment expressed in Resolution 2397 to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The Council must also remain attentive to the humanitarian situation in the DPRK. We reiterate the call on the DPRK to expedite the return of the UN country team and the international community to strengthen support for its people and advance the 2030 agenda. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Jonah Leff.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to begin by thanking the permanent mission of the United States for giving me the opportunity to brief the Security Council of the United Nations today. and I congratulate the United States for its accomplishments during its presidency. My organization, Conflict Armament Research, documents and traces weapons and their components using conflicts around the world with an aim to assisting states in countering diversion and proliferation. Madam President, The last time I briefed the council in June of this year, I presented findings that my organization had generated in January and February after examining the remnants of a missile recovered in Ukraine. In January 2024, a Carfield investigation team physically documented the remains of a ballistic missile that struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city on 2 January 2024. CAR documented the missile's rocket motor, its tail section, and almost 300 internal components manufactured by 26 companies from eight countries and territories. Based on several unique features observed during the documentation, we determined that this missile was of the Hwasong-11 family manufactured in the DPRK in 2023. In the days following this initial documentation, our teams inspected three further identical DPRK missiles that struck Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. Security Council resolutions on DPRK prohibit UN member states from procuring arms or related material from the DPRK and prohibit the DPRK from exporting this material. Our reporting on the matter was the first public analysis of such weapons launched outside the DPRK and in the war in Ukraine. CAR has reached the conclusion that the missiles were manufactured in the DPRK based on the missiles unique characteristics. The evidence that my organization observed and thoroughly documented firsthand irrefutably establishes that the missile fired on Ukraine were indeed of DPRK origin. The United Nations panels of experts on the DPRK, whose mandate has since not been renewed by the Security Council, subsequently confirmed CAR's findings. Two months after my briefing to the Council in June, our team in Ukraine documented additional remnants of four missiles that we also attribute to the DPRK. These were recovered in July and August. On one of these missiles, CAR documented marks indicating missile production in 2024. This is the first public evidence of missiles having been produced in North Korea and then used in Ukraine within a matter of months, not years. CAR's latest field documentation and analysis highlight three key observations. First, it confirms the continued use of freshly manufactured North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine. Second, the discovery of a 2024 production mark on one of the missiles reveals a very short period between the production of these ballistic missiles, their transfer, and eventual use in Ukraine. Third, the presence of recently produced non-domestic components, some bearing 2023 production marks, among missile remnants illustrates North Korea's robust acquisition network for its ballistic missile program despite UN sanctions prohibiting the transfer of this material for military purpose. On this last point, none of these components were manufactured in the DPRK. This highlights the DPRK's reliance on foreign manufactured components to sustain its domestic missile program. While formal tracing with industry is ongoing, in one case, CAR has identified a company incorporated in an East Asian country as the last known custodian of microprocessors documented by CAR in three separate DPRK missiles this year. Madam President, CAR has also documented 200 non-DPRK drones and missiles that have been used against Ukraine, consisting of thousands of components. Of these components, Again, the vast majority bear the brands of companies based in Europe, Japan, or the United States. Through CAR's collaborative approach with industry, we have ascertained that these components found in remnants of weapon systems used against Ukraine derive from supplies by third-party distributors mostly based in East Asia. Although the semiconductor industry is complex and layered in nature, CAR's boots on the ground approach characterized by field documentation, Collaborative tracing with industry, triangulation, and targeted trade mapping allows for the effective identification of entities of concern, including repeat cases of acquisition. This information is crucial to member states and industry. The proliferation and use of DPRK missiles leads to further erosion of global non-proliferation regimes. Specifically, any exports of ballistic missiles from the DPRK carried out following the introduction of UN embargoes on the country in 2006 represent violations of the sanctions regime. Security Council resolutions also forbid the DPRK from developing its ballistic missile program, meaning that individuals and entities involved in the facilitation and transfer of key components and materials may also have committed sanctions violations. Despite nearly two decades of sanctions on the DPRK, it has demonstrated this year its ability to produce and supply ballistic missiles for use against Ukraine within just a matter of months. CAR's global field investigation teams will continue to document weapon systems used in the conflict in Ukraine and will endeavor to highlight any developments as they occur, including the continued use of weapons manufactured by the DPRK. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your time.

I thank Mr. Leht for his statement. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I will give the floor to the representative of France.

Madam President, I wish first and foremost to thank the Under Secretary General, Madam de Carlo, for her briefing to the Council, as well as Mr. Leht for his statement. Madam President, for many long months, it has been clear that North Korea has been complicit in Russia's war of aggression being waged against Ukraine. Large-scale military support for the Russian war effort has been provided. In addition to the provision in large quantities of munitions and artillery systems, it has been demonstrated that North Korean ballistic missiles are being used to strike at Ukraine, as was the case in Kharkiv last January and in July and August. France condemns Transfer and the use of these weapons, which constitute grave violations of Security Council resolutions with the support of which resolutions which were adopted with Russia's support, this poses a direct threat to the security of Ukrainian of the Europeans. as well as a threat to international security. North Korean support for the Russian aggression has traversed a new threshold with the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia and their engagement alongside Russian armed forces. We condemn in the strongest terms the direct engagement of these troops, which represents an unacceptable escalation and a dangerous spread of the conflict. It is clear that the growing North Korean military support reflects difficulties encountered by Russia, which is desperately seeking to pursue its war aggression, with the nefarious consequences of which we are aware when it comes to the entire international community. Madam President, the stepping up of the illicit military cooperation between the Russian Federation and North Korea also poses a grave challenge to the international non-proliferation regime, which is one of the core pillars of our collective security. In exchange for the military support which it receives, Russia is now helping to provide impunity and assistance for illegal WMD the programs of North Korea. Last March, Russia alone cast a veto for the extension of the panel of experts for the 1718 committee. Thereby, Russia stripped all member states of the opportunity to receive vital information from a vital source on the implementation of Security Council resolutions. Last September, the Russian foreign minister crossed a new threshold by qualifying North Korean denuclearization as a closed issue. These remarks unacceptably undermine the goal set out in Security Council resolutions of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible abandonment of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. When these missiles are being used to strike at civilian populations and infrastructure in Ukraine, North Korea receives information about their performance, which it could then use to to further develop its ballistic program. These missiles can be used in the future in other theaters and be used as delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons. We cannot but be concerned at the fact that there may be other compensation that Pyongyang may demand in terms of military and technical assistance for its WMD, large-scale WMD program, in exchange for its complicity in that war of aggression. It is incumbent upon the Russian Federation to comply with the obligations it has assumed as a permanent member of the Security Council. We therefore urge once again Russia to end its war of aggression. We urge Russia and North Korea to comply with their international obligations, specifically when it comes to Security Council resolutions. We urge North Korea to rekindle dialogue with a view to achieving complete, irreversible, and verifiable denuclearization. Lastly, we reaffirm our determination to support Ukraine, which is defending its independence, sovereignty and its territorial integrity. Thank you.

I thank the representative of France for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank you for convening this critical meeting requested by seven Council members, including Japan. I also thank USG DiCarlo and Mr. Jonas Lef, Executive Director of Conflict Armament Research, for their informative briefings. As we just heard from the briefers, there is enough evidence for the existence and expansion of military cooperation between Russia and DPRK. Their unlawful military cooperation, including direct support by North Korea for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security. Russia is continuously attacking Ukraine using weapons supplied by DPRK, violating the relevant Security Council resolutions. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and their engagement in combat against Ukraine constitutes a clear violation of international law, including the UN Charter. We, as a responsible Security Council member, cannot just sit still and watch this situation as the relevance of the Security Council, which has been cultivated over eight decades, is undermined. The members of the Security Council are the ones above all who should lead in adhering to the Council's resolutions, but Russia acts to the contrary. No excuse can justify this fact. The panel of experts established in 2009 was regrettably forced to terminate due to the veto by Russia in April this year. It had been a treasure trove of information over the past 15 years. No reasonable person would doubt that it was Russia's clear intention to veil its unlawful military cooperation with North Korea. Madam President, We now stand at the crossroads whether we take actions and raise our voices to maintain international order based on the rule of law guided by the UN Charter, or we remain silent in the face of this unprecedented threat to the values and the order of the UN system and the relevance of this Council. Japan, particularly as an elected member of the Security Council over the past two years, has been taking actions to defend the value of the UN and will continue to do so for all time to come. The Security Council, consisting of only 15 member states, is responsible for addressing challenges to global peace and security on behalf of all 193 UN member states. And this role should never be cast aside in the name of a single country's national interest. Madam President, the threat of North Korean military activities goes beyond the region and now extends around the entire world. The North Korea continues to conduct provocations including an ICBM-class missile launch at the end of October, which has the highest and longest length trajectory of any missile that North Korea has launched to date, with an estimated range capability of 15,000 kilometers, covering three-fourths of the globe. Not to mention that recent nuclear developments, including the release of images of a uranium enrichment facility for the first time in September, are also of grave concern. These reckless nuclear and ballistic missile developments by DPRK jeopardize the global non-proliferation regimes. In this connection, There is a big question about what North Korea has gained or will gain in return for its military support for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Any support or benefit to North Korea related to its nuclear and ballistic missile development is a menace to the global non-proliferation regime. Madam President, I would like to conclude my remarks by recalling that the advancement of DPRK's nuclear and missile activities is an imminent threat to the entire globe, and call on all U.N. member states to uphold the non-proliferation regime, the very foundation of peace and security of the international community. Today, as today's agenda, non-proliferation/DPRK, clearly describe the reason why we are here to discuss at this critical moment. Japan is committed to addressing this global challenge, not just as a member of the Security Council, but also as a responsible adherent to the United Nations anchored by the UN Charter. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Japan for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Malta.

Thank you, President, and I also thank USG DeCarlo and Mr. Lef for their comprehensive yet worrying briefings. We joined the call for this meeting because we are deeply concerned about DPRK's growing military cooperation with the Russian Federation, including the support of its aggression against Ukraine. As we have stated multiple times, the transfer of arms, as well as ammunition and related materials, to and from the DPRK is a flagrant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions, as well as the 1718 sanctions regime. Over the past two years, the DPRK has continued to advance its unlawful WMDs program, including through a record number of ballistic missile launches. Throughout this period, the DPRK has enjoyed external support for its ever-evolving architecture of sanctions evasion, and this Council has not been able to speak with one voice to condemn it. Multiple reports show that DPRK transferred ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Russian Federation in support of its war in Ukraine. We strongly condemn such actions. These actions are blatant violations of the sanctions regime, gravely undermine the UN Charter and contribute to furthering the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We also reiterate our disappointment for the termination of the 1718 panel of experts. The panel's reports represented a crucial source of information on the sanctions implementation. Its absence greatly facilitates violations with the results we are witnessing today. Equally concerning is that the regime continues to prioritize its unlawful WMDs program and its military engagements over the needs of its people. Despite an estimated over 40% of the population in need of direct assistance, The regime continues to deny access to the UN and international humanitarian actors. President, the threat posed by the DPRK is no longer a regional one. Its advanced missile capabilities, as well as its active involvement in and support for Russia's aggression of Ukraine, have detrimental consequences for European security as well. This is unacceptable and the Council should send a clear and unified message to the DPRK. Sanctions remain in place and it is imperative that all Member States fully implement them. In this connection, we encourage the 1718 Committee to continue to actively engage with the wider membership, as well as with relevant international organisations, to ensure a constant flow of information. Years of Council's inaction and external support have emboldened the DPRK. We deeply regret that during Malta's tenure on the Council, this threat to international peace and security has continued to grow rather than being addressed, as the mandate of this body would dictate. While we prepare to leave the Council, we will continue to engage on this file towards the ultimate goal of lasting peace and denuclearisation in the Korean peninsula. To this end, we urge all members to set aside their differences and collectively address this situation. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Malta for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Madam President, for convening this important meeting. I also extend my gratitude to USDCG Carlo and Mr. Jonah Leff. Executive Director of Conflict Armament Research for their briefings. Madam President, as the year comes to an end, let me take this opportunity to recap the significant developments we witnessed on North Korea's unlawful WMD program in 2024 and how it kept threatening international peace and security. First, North Korea's redefinition of inter-Korean relations announced early this year marks the culmination of North Korea's nuclear policy. For a couple of years leading up to 2024, North Korea had taken unprecedented steps to develop tactical nuclear weapons, diversify delivery vehicles, and lower the nuclear threshold. Besides launching ICBMs such as Hwasong-19 late last October, Pyongyang test fired various types of short-range ballistic and cruise missiles capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads. North Korea also adopted a nuclear policy law that significantly lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons in 2022 and incorporated that policy into its constitution in 2023. And then came the final piece of the puzzle when Kim Jong-un announced at the beginning of this year a policy shift on inter-Korean relations. By scrapping the seven-decade-long policy of unification and redefining the Republic of Korea as a foreign hostile state, the North Korean leader eliminated the final psychological hurdle in order to justify a preemptive nuclear strike on the ROK. As a follow-up, North Korea took the substantial military step of completely cutting off road and rail links to the South in October. Second, this year saw a marked and qualitative shift in the state of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Besides providing a huge amount of ammunitions, ballistic missiles, and artillery to Russia in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, North Korea dispatched more than 11,000 troops, thus joining as a belligerent party in Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. North Korean soldiers are already engaged in combat operations, with some being reportedly killed in action on the battlefield. This illegal military cooperation goes far beyond anything we could have imagined. When the war first broke out, we never expected that North Korean troops would be fighting on the European battlefield and that Russia would rely on North Korea's military to such an extent. What is all the more worrisome is that no one knows how far this military cooperation will go and where it might end. They may move the goalposts as they see fit as the situation unfolds. With the recently ratified Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, Russia and North Korea formalized this illicit military cooperation. In addition to gaining firsthand experience in modern warfare and economic benefits from Russia, Pyongyang may acquire advanced military technology, material, and equipment for its nuclear and missile program. We assess that Russia provides the air defense missile system to North Korea. Furthermore, Russia is accepting North Korean workers, which is one of the few revenue sources for cash-strapped Pyongyang. It is deeply troubling that Russian local authorities are openly speaking up about hiring North Korean workers to fill labor shortage, which would be a clear violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. The ROK assesses that 4,000 North Korean workers have been sent to Russia this year alone, and North Korea may use regular passenger rail service resumed earlier this week and other means to dispatch more workers to Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Minister's description of North Korea's denuclearization as a closed issue would seriously undermine the global non-proliferation regime. If Russia abandons its long-held position of denuclearization of North Korea, it will erode the very foundation of the NPT regime. Such an outcome will not be in anyone's interest, in particular the nuclear weapon states, including China and eventually Russia. Madam President, this year is indeed an inflection point. Going forward, however, we must expect further uncertainties looming over the horizon. North Korea has a history of provocative actions during U.S. presidential transitions, designed to grab attention, raise the stakes, and set the stage for direct negotiations with a new U.S. administration. This pattern can recur within the upcoming months. This time, it could be another ICBM or military satellite launch or even its seventh nuclear test. Dear colleagues, as members of the Security Council, we should stand united to address North Korea's unlawful WMD program and remain prepared to deal with any possible provocations by the DPRK. We bear a heavy responsibility on our shoulders for the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as upholding the global non-proliferation regime underpinned by the NPT. We must therefore ensure all relevant Security Council resolutions will be fully implemented by all UN Member States. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank U.S.G. DiCarlo and Mr. Leff for their valuable contributions. Madam President, my country is deeply concerned with the expansion of military engagements of the DPRK, especially its military cooperation with Russia. This represents an escalation of Russia's illegal war on Ukraine. Firstly, evidence on arms transfers cropped up. Millions of artillery shells and numerous missiles were reportedly transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. Secondly, evidence emerged of DPRK troops presence in Europe. And what is more, the latest reports indicate that they are now actively involved in this war. These developments represent blatant violations of UN Security Council resolutions. and heavily imply that Russia is willing to undermine the Council and the UN to achieve short-term military advantages. At the same time, the North Korean leadership is immensely profiting from this rekindling of cooperation. With no considerations being given to international law, the charter, or Security Council resolutions, there are indications that the DPRK is acquiring new armaments and military technology from Russia. In addition to this comes a deeply troubling statement by Foreign Minister Lavrov, who publicly said that Russia viewed the notion of denuclearizing North Korea as a closed matter. Slovenia is deeply concerned that as a consequence of these developments, the DPRK leadership will be able to further sustain its illegal ballistic, nuclear, and other WMD programs to the detriment of its own civilian population. Madam President, the DPRK no longer represents only a regional challenge, but is destabilizing two parts of the world at the same time. It is high time for the DPRK to cease its provocative activities and return to dialogue and diplomacy. At the same time, Russia must discontinue its illegal support to DPRK. We need to employ all diplomatic means to bring the DPRK back to the negotiating table. There is no legitimate alternative to dialogue and diplomacy, and we will need a lot of both to comprehensively address the imperative of DPRK's denuclearization. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Slovenia for their statement. I now give the floor to the United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. And thank you to USG DiCarlo and Mr. Leff for your briefing. Over the past year, we've seen the DPRK providing increasing support to Russia's illegal war against Ukraine through the supply of munitions, ballistic missiles, and now manpower with the deployment of more than 10,000 DPRK troops to Russia. The Council should be deeply concerned that DPRK troops are now engaging in direct combat operations against Ukraine, involving themselves directly in the largest war in Europe in a generation, a war the General Assembly has repeatedly described as a violation of international law. While Russia's growing reliance on third country support comes as no surprise given its weakened state, and its desperate efforts to steal more Ukrainian territory, this is a grave error by DPRK. We call upon Pyongyang to withdraw its forces from the theatre of combat and encourage all countries with influence in Pyongyang to use it accordingly. It should by now be crystal clear to the DPRK, your support for Russia's illegal war in Europe is not in your interests. You must cease this support immediately and return to meaningful engagement with the international community. Colleagues, deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK has significant implications for security and stability in Europe, the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. We should all be worried about a DPRK with improved military technology and enhanced capacity to export weapons. Recent reports that Russia intends to transfer MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft to DPRK further exposes Russia's willingness to raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula and undermine regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, all in service of its war against Ukraine. And Foreign Minister Lavrov's declaration that the notion of denuclearizing North Korea is a quote, closed issue, unquote, is a reckless departure from the agreed principle of complete, verifiable, and irreversible disarmament and undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We call on Russia an NPT depositary state, to align their words and actions with their stated commitment to global nuclear non-proliferation principles. We will continue to impose costs on Russia and DPRK for this dangerous expansion of the war. If Putin was truly interested in peace, he could end this war today. by ceasing his deployment of DPRK troops on the front line and ending his country's aggression against Ukraine. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Guyana.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank Under-Secretary-General Di Carlo and Mr. Lef for their briefings. I also acknowledge the presence of the representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ukraine, and the European Union in this meeting. Madam President, Guyana reiterates its condemnation of all ballistic missile launches in 2024 by the DPRK in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. We urge the DPRK to adhere scrupulously to its obligations under these resolutions, to abandon its nuclear weapons program as well as its ballistic missile program, and to destroy all other existing weapons of mass destruction. We also encourage all member states to comply with and implement the relevant council resolutions related to the DPRK. In this regard, we stress that any military engagements with the DPRK should fully align with international law and with these resolutions. Madam President, the Security Council through the 1718 committee, maintains its mandate of overseeing the implementation of the measures outlined in Council resolutions related to the DPRK, despite the expiration of the mandate of the Committee's Panel of Experts. We recall that the fulfillment of the objectives of the Security Council resolutions is critical to reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula through a peaceful and comprehensive solution. To this end, we will continue to support alternative options within the Council that seek to address the gaps in reporting and monitoring the sanctions related to the DPRK. We stress that a continuous flow of information on the implementation of the DPRK sanctions regime remains critical to the work of the Committee in the execution of its mandate. Additionally, Guyana believes that dialogue and diplomacy remain critical to resolving the tensions on the peninsula. In this regard, we again urge resumption of dialogue among all concerned parties so that progress can be achieved in de-escalating the tensions. Madam President, in conclusion, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to the Council's efforts to bring about full compliance with its resolutions related to the DPRK, including through the 1718 sanctions committee. We also reaffirm our commitment to the advancement of the global non-proliferation and disarmament agenda, and call on states that have not yet done so to ratify the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. We further reiterate our support for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which we believe is one of the key aspirations to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons and ensuring international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Guyana for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of China.

President. The current global security situation continues to deteriorate with unprecedented tense geopolitical situations. While the situation on the Korean Peninsula is becoming more sensitive and complex with an unstable and uncertain future trajectory. Against this backdrop, the international community should work together to promote the political settlement process of the Peninsula issue. First is to add weight to maintaining stability and preventing chaos. Maintaining peace and stability and preventing war and chaos on the peninsula serve the common interests of all parties and are in line with the common expectation of the international community. And hence, the greatest common denominator of the positions and propositions of the parties. Under the current situation, all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint. Refrain from any words or deeds that may intensify conflicts and tension to prevent the situation from further deteriorating or any unexpected events. Second is to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue. History and past practices have repeatedly shown that as long as all parties are willing to engage in dialogue and make compromises, the situation on the peninsula can be eased and progress can be made in the political settlement of the peninsula issue. The relevant parties should be rational and pragmatic, resume contact as soon as possible to build mutual trust and restart dialogue, and work together to break the current deadlock. A certain country should abandon the myths of sanctions and pressure, take tangible measures to truly show goodwill and sincerity for dialogue. Third is to seek a fundamental solution. The Korean Peninsula issue as a vestige of the Cold War is rooted in the long existing failure to achieve the transition from the armistice to a peace mechanism and the severe lack of trust between the parties, especially between the US and the DPRK. To fundamentally resolve the peninsula issue and achieve long lasting peace and stability in the region, both the symptoms and root causes should be addressed and comprehensive measures adopted. The vision of common security should be upheld and the reasonable security concerns of regional countries should be kept in mind to advance the transformation from the armistice to a peace mechanism. To this end, the dual-track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized steps proposed by China are effective ways to promote the political settlement process and achieve long-term peace and stability on the peninsula. Fourth is to abandon the Cold War mentality. Though the Korean War ended more than 70 years ago, the shadow of the Cold War lingers on the peninsula and has become ever more prominent. A certain country is obsessed with a Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, constantly manipulates the situation on the peninsula, takes opportunities to accelerate its Indo-Pacific strategy and strengthen regional military alliance. In particular, it has increased imports in military force and strategic asset deployment on the peninsula and in surrounding areas, seriously undermining the security interests of the regional countries, including China. The relevant country should stop the erroneous act of using the peninsula issue to promote its geopolitical strategy and provoke block confrontation. Otherwise, the political settlement of the peninsula issue will be difficult to advance smoothly. President, China has noted that some members have mentioned the relationship between the current European security and the peninsula situation in their statements. It needs to be emphasized that the issue of Ukraine and the peninsula issue are complete, completely different in terms of origin and nature. Linking the two will only make both issues more complicated and difficult to resolve. Using the worry about the intertwining of the security Europe and that in the Asian Pacific and their resonance as a pretext to push NATO to cross its border and extend its power to get involved in the Asian Pacific, but only further intensify regional antagonism and exacerbate confrontation. China firmly opposes this approach. In conclusion, I wish to point out that the starting point and opinion of the Security Council's handling of the Peninsula issue should be to promote its political settlement process rather than using unilateral pressure, much less to political showmanship. All resolutions on the DPRK adopted with the Security Council should be implemented completely accurately and in a balanced manner. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has always diligently implemented various resolutions on the DPRK and fulfilled its due international obligations. At the same time, as a close neighbor of the peninsula and a responsible major country, China has been playing a constructive role in its own way in promoting the early resumption of dialogue and maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and achieving long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia. We call on all parties concerned to join hands with China to continue the efforts to that end. Thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank Under Secretary General Di Carlo for her briefing. We have listened carefully to the representative of the civil society. At the outset, Algeria reaffirms its commitment to the principles of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and to the implementation of Security Council resolutions. We believe that the 1718 Committee remains the most appropriate and relevant forum for discussing matters related to implementing the DPRK sanctions regime. The Committee's mandate and technical expertise make it better suited to handle these issues in a measured and objective manner. We emphasize the importance of maintaining the Committee's ability to fulfill its technical functions effectively. In this context, we appreciate the Committee's continued efforts to process humanitarian exemptions and facilitate the provision of essential assistance to civilian populations. With regard to various concerns expressed, Algeria maintains that such matters should be addressed through established technical channels. within the 1718 committee framework. This approach ensures proper assessment of information while avoiding undue politicization. Algeria continues to advocate for a more comprehensive diplomatic approach that addresses the underlying causes of tension on the Korean Peninsula. We believe that sanctions, while part of the Council's toolkit, should be implemented alongside meaningful diplomatic initiatives aimed at building confidence and promoting dialogue. In this regard, we support the development of a gradual roadmap that could include reciprocal measures to encourage concrete steps towards denuclearization. Experience has shown that an all or nothing approach is unlikely to yield sustainable results. We remain deeply concerned about the impact of sanctions on civilian populations, and we call for continued attention to humanitarian considerations. The Committee's exemption mechanism plays a vital role in this regard, and we encourage its efficient implementation. Looking ahead, Algeria calls on all parties to engage constructively within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions. We believe that sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula will be achieved through a combination of the following measures. adherence to the technical assessment of sanctions implementation, enhanced humanitarian support for civilian populations, step-by-step confidence-building measures, and sustained diplomatic engagement addressing the security concerns of all parties. In conclusion, we encourage all stakeholders to work toward reducing tensions and creating conditions conducive to meaningful dialogue. Our shared objective remains to be to establish lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through diplomatic means. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Algeria for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Madam President. We thank USG Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo for her important briefing. We take note of the contribution of Mr. Jonah Leif. At the outset, Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of disarmament, non-proliferation, and international peace and security, and calls for concerted and concrete efforts to combat proliferation efforts worldwide. We reiterate the provision of the Charter of the United Nations that states that all members shall settle their disputes by peaceful means in such manner that international peace and security are not endangered. Madam President, the DPRK's advancement of its nuclear and ballistic missile program is a cause for concern and requires the highest level of attention. We reiterate a call for the DPRK to respect and fully comply with its obligations under the numerous Security Council resolutions that prohibits its continuous and alarming nuclear and ballistic weapons program. In this regard, it is crucial for the Security Council to strengthen and increase its efforts to address the growing concern of nuclear expansion in the DPRK, which further heightens tensions in the peninsula and undermines ongoing efforts for a sustainable and long-lasting solution to this very serious issue in the region. We also reiterate our call for the strong support and implementation by Member States of the United Nations Security Council resolutions that outlines the sanction obligations to deter further escalation and advancement of the DPRK's nuclear weapons program. Such efforts will give credence to the Council's authority and to global non-proliferation action. Madam President, the DPRK's humanitarian crisis and economic constraint is highly complex and intricate. It is therefore important that due focus is extended to addressing the underlying humanitarian and human rights issues in the country. In this connection, we call for increased diplomatic efforts. to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and urge the DPRK to return to negotiations to end its nuclear programs in an unconditional and irreversible manner. Sierra Leone also calls on the DPRK to engage bilaterally and multilaterally to unequivocally commit to transparent, complete, verifiable, irreversible and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament. Additionally, we reiterate our call for the CTBT's entry into force, noting its valuable contribution to halting further modernization and increase in vertical and horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons, thereby advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament. We conclude by echoing our previous call for the need for a holistic and comprehensive assessment of the nuclear program of the DPRK, drawing upon the global effort for non-proliferation to promote international peace and security.

I thank you. I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Madam President, my delegation would like to thank Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo for her informative briefing, and we listened carefully to the presentation given by the representative of civil society. Ecuador would like to express its profound concern at the repeated actions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which flagrantly violate resolutions of this Council. undermining the nuclear non proliferation regime and exacerbating regional as well as global tensions. The constant carrying out of ballistic missile tests as well as the development of nuclear weapons constitute direct threats to international stability and the global non proliferation architecture. To this must be added the recent reports with regard to the shipment of weaponry and munitions and the mobilisation of North Korean troops towards Russian frontlines in Ukraine, which are alarming and dangerous actions. Madam President, the lack of consistency and the absence of a unified message of the Security Council in the light of the defiant behaviour of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea affects the credibility of this organ. The silence of the Council sends out the wrong message to Pyongyang. In the past, the Security Council was able to send out a unanimous message, and a clear one, with regard to violations by the DPRK. But today, I very much regret the deadlock which is the hallmark of deliberations of this Council. Whilst the differences continue to stand in the way of an effective collective response, the threats to international peace and security are growing. The broad membership of the United Nations requires of this Council that it send out a message of respect for and compliance with international law, the United Nations Charter and the resolutions of the Security Council. We must remember that the United Nations Charter confers upon us the primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. This principle should guide our decisions over and above any other consideration. Distinguished colleagues, unilateral action which prioritizes military power over dialogue and cooperation erodes the pillars on which our organization is built. In this regard, Ecuador would call upon the DPRK to immediately cease its provocative activities and to fully abide by its international obligations under the United Nations Charter. Finally, and since this is the last time that my country will have the opportunity to address this issue after two years of membership on this Council, we once again call upon the members that have the greatest influence on the DPRK to renew their commitment towards searching for a solution based on dialogue and avoid unnecessary escalations which could have disastrous consequences. Diplomacy must prevail. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Ecuador for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam President, we welcome the participation in today's meeting by the permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was with surprise that we listened to the statement delivered by Madam Rosemary DiCarlo. This was a very unique briefing from a senior official of the United Nations, which was based on press statements, which the United Nations is unable to verify. So then why are you presenting such data here in this chamber? Those who are listening to you will not hear the last sentence. They will take what you have stated, your restating of insinuations, as fact. So it turns out that you are participating in unspooling politicized fake narratives in breach of your obligations under Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations. And the nature of the assessments of Mr. Leff is something which I've already mentioned. I will not repeat myself. As we stated before about the arguments of a number of statements from representatives about the panel of experts, which is now gone, who visited Kyiv, not a single one of them was a ballistics expert. In recent years, the Security Council conducted a large number of meetings at the initiative of the United States about the situation on the Korean Peninsula under duplicitous pretexts. They have routinely convened each time the DPRK duly undertook measures to enhance its own national security in response to military provocation by Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo. The main objective of these meetings was two-pronged, to pin full responsibility on Pyongyang for the deteriorating situation on the peninsula on the one hand, and to portray themselves on the other hand as the main regional peacekeepers. However, that is Not so simple, quite the contrary, it is not at all the case. The situation is deliberately being turned on its head, as if it were not the US and allies who at full speed are scaling up their military presence in the Asia Pacific. systematically destroying prospects of establishing a non-block collective security architecture there. It is as if in recent months, not Pyongyang's adversaries, it was who carried out large-scale military exercises entitled Freedom Shield, Freedom Flag, Freedom Edge with joint nuclear planning. What kind of freedom are we actually talking about here? These provocative acts are being, are compounded by the amassing at the borders of the DPRK of hundreds of units of air assets, ground troops, navy personnel, and intelligence assets. Let us recall that during such exercises, there are rehearsals of scenarios of a hypothetical armed conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the physical elimination of the North Korean leadership. This policy, as we all were aware, is being carried out in breach of Security Council resolutions on Korean resolution, which instruct that problems on the Korean Peninsula be resolved exclusively through peaceful diplomatic and political means and through dialogue. This is explicitly set out in those resolutions to which you constantly refer. Now, turning to cooperation between Russia and Pyongyang, we have repeatedly set out our position that DPRK is our close neighbor and partner with whom we are developing relations in all areas. This is our sovereign right. Russian cooperation with the DPRK at the military and other areas is in accordance with international law, not in violation thereof. This is not directed against any third countries. It does not pose any threat to states in the region or international or the international community. And have no doubt, we will continue to develop such cooperation. On the 12th of November, a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was ratified between Russia and the DPRK. The document sets out core principles for the further development of Russian-Korean relations, focused on deepening partnership and strategic cooperation on a broad range of priority areas for both states and forging a fair international system. This is non-confrontational. It is defensive in nature, and it is focused on the maintenance of stability in the Northeast Asia region. You yourselves always talked about NATO on the basis of your rules as a defensive alliance. Why are you so anxious now when we are talking about joint defense? In response to the premises of the Republic of Korea's representative, I wish to note the following. Before holding forth on the consequences of Pyongyang's actions, you would be well advised to first get to the bottom of what is happening in your country, not just from the internal political situation, the domestic political situation. based on media leaks. So in recent months, Seoul has deliberately tried to trigger an acute escalation of tensions on the peninsula. To that end, drones were sent to the DPRK in order to provoke in response a harsh reaction from Pyongyang. There is information that the foreign defense minister for the Republic of Korea was planning to strike at locations in North Korea where balloons carrying trash were launched. If that is the case, then the baseless allegations of Seoul about the alleged dangerous nature of cooperation between Russia and DPRK appear absurd and hypocritical. Madam President, before today, the alarmist convening of Security Council meetings appeared to be a routine fulfillment of political instructions, which apparently were intended to generate an impression for the domestic audience to, among other things, demonstrate that after the escalation you yourselves provoked, you are apparently then monitoring developments and doing something at the Security Council about it. The nature and the unusual vociferous, the intensity of the statements of those at the Council today only bears that out. The identical, as do the identical premises which you trot out, you You could have saved even more time in this very interesting and entertaining meeting if you had identified somebody to speak on behalf of all seven countries who requested that today's meeting be held. This would not have added anything, and it would not have taken anything away from the narrative that you have unspooled. However, the topic of the choice of topic for today's meeting is utterly preposterous. What right does the United States and allies in the region have to lecture about expanding DPRK military engagements when it is indeed Washington, which is continuously and consistently engaged in such policies throughout the world with the most devastating consequences? This is an attempt to detract attention from the deadlock both in Ukraine and on the line of contact, as well as to justify the participation participation of NATO military specialists in the conflict. Through the hybrid war with the aim of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, which the Anglo-Saxons and their allies openly talk about, not only are they pumping various types of weaponry into Ukraine, but they are also deploying their troops into Ukraine. Western troops from Western armies are now fighting in the ranks of the U.N. A.F., the Ukrainian armed forces. This is a fact. These are not volunteers. They are officers without whom it would be impossible to use not just Western long range weapons, but also Ukrainian long range combat means without their participation, without the space intelligence data, which you perfectly understand Kiev could not have without the specialists. on flight assignment flight assignment programming Ukrainians could simply not would not be able to use the missile related equipment. It is thanks to Western military assistance that the Kiev regime managed to pull off the incursion into Kursk in August, which without this, it was an unprovoked attack on the peaceful. I stress this peaceful civilians in Russian cities. They were ruthlessly shelled at and they were abducted and evacuations were obstructed we spoke about this in detail during the Aria formula meeting held in October including with a witness testimony which bore out the fact that this senseless attack had military foreign uh Personnel involved in a most active way but this is something that Western delegations and as all prefer not to mention they brush aside concerns with hypocritical rhetoric about Ukraine's right to self-defense and their willingness to provide support, as much support as is necessary to Ukraine. Today, the sanctions monitoring group for the DPRK was mentioned. This is a mechanism that is portrayed or presented as some kind of a replacement for the panel of experts for the 1718 sanctions committee. rewriting verbatim the information from newspapers as Madame de Carlo did today and completely discredited themselves completely. We wish to stress that this tool was established in circumvention of the Security Council. It has no legitimate mandate as a result. Its establishment directly contravenes the Charter of the United Nations as an initiative which undermines the exclusive prerogative of the Security Council on questions of monitoring implementation So any products developed within this format will be entirely illegitimate and we have no doubt these will be fabrications and disinformation. Colleagues, I turn now back to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. And we wish to note once again, the Security Council would be well advised to fundamentally reconsider approaches to end the dangerous deadlock of the situation rather than further escalating tensions. We repeatedly stated where it would be possible to move towards normalization. But to that end, Western capitals need to fundamentally reshape their mindsets, which are stuck in the Cold War mentality. The sooner Washington and their accomplices stop thinking in this obsolete way, the sooner the Security Council will manage to successfully improve the situation in the region. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

Madam President, We thank Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo and Mr. Jonah Leff of Conflict Armament Research for their presentations. We welcome the participation of representatives from Ukraine, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the European Union in our deliberations. The reports that have just been delivered are deeply disturbing and, if confirmed, would constitute not only violations of international law, but would represent a development that risks having serious consequences for European, Asian and global security. Three aspects seem particularly important to us. Firstly, from a legal point of view, a deployment of armed forces Armed Force troops by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, if proven, would add to the growing number of substantiated reports of illegal arms transfers to Russia. Any arms transactions with the DPRK constitutes a violation of this Council's sanctions. This includes the sale, purchase, import, and export of weapons to or from the DPRK. The use of KN-23 ballistic missiles and the impact of their use on the Ukrainian civilian population also raise questions about respect for international humanitarian law. Military cooperation, as described, would also be prohibited under resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2270. While resolution 2397 provided for the repatriation of all foreign workers from the DPRK, the presence of thousands of troops is irreconcilable with the letter, let alone the spirit, of this and other binding resolutions. One violation of international law thus feeds another. Breaches of sanctions against the DPRK support Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Switzerland deeply regrets that the extension of the mandate of the panel of experts on the DPRK failed due to a Russian veto, even though this group was investigating allegations of illegal arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia. Secondly, Switzerland condemns Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. It is appalling that despite clear and repeated calls from the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice, Russia continues its military aggression. sending armed forces from third countries to support it would run counter not only to these appeals but also to the spirit of the UN Charter itself. We call on the DPRK and all third parties to refrain from any action likely to fuel Russian military aggression, and we once again call upon Russia to cease hostilities immediately and withdraw its troops from all Ukrainian territory. Finally, With regard to the non-proliferation architecture carefully constructed over the past five decades, we call on the DPRK to take concrete steps to abandon its nuclear weapons, ballistic missile and related programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and to abide by its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing. Switzerland calls on the DPRK to return to the NPT and the IAEA safeguards as soon as possible, as well as to sign and ratify the CTBT. Russia, as the depositary state of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is called upon to strengthen it, not weaken it. Madam President, This Council has the responsibility and the duty to respond to the dual challenge of military aggression against Ukraine and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. With regard to Ukraine, Switzerland continues to support the search for a peaceful solution and remains ready to contribute to all efforts to promote peace in accordance with the UN Charter, in particular the principles of territorial integrity and independence. Nothing can justify the disastrous humanitarian, social, psychological and economic consequences of this military aggression. It harms everyone and benefits no one. We will also continue our commitment to a denuclearized and peaceful Korean peninsula and encourage the use of the Secretary-General's good offices for a return to dialogue, de-escalation and the search for diplomatic solutions. We encourage the DPRK to engage in constructive dialogue with the Council and the UN system. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.

Madam President, Mozambique wishes to commend the United States Presidency for convening this briefing section. We thank Mrs. Rose DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and Mr. John Lef, Executive Director at the Conflict Armament Research, for their briefing and update on the subject under consideration. We acknowledge the presence of the representatives of Democratic and People's Republic of Korea in this meeting. We also acknowledge the participation of representative of Ukraine and the representative of delegations of European Union. Madam President, we have several times expressed in this chamber our deep concern about the persistence of weaponization over the world, which undermines the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is sensitive, for it is potential for further escalating of tensions over the region. The risks associated with this situation are particularly related to the proliferations of weapons that can fall into terrorist groups or unauthorized institutions or entities, endangering the international peace and security. It is in this context that we continue advocating for exercise of moderation, restraint, and avoiding unilateral actions or inflammatory language. The international community has a crucial role to play in promoting dialogue conductive to lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. Our collective responsibility is utmost important since it may contribute to prevent and eradicate the threat posed by nuclear weapons. We call upon all importing and producing states to comply with their international obligations through effective dialogue and cooperation to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the region and in the world at large. Madam President, peace and security anywhere will only be possible through enforcement of international measures and instruments. The Outer Space Treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and other relevant UN resolutions play a critical role in this regard. This is the best time for all of us to converge around the Secretary-General's appeal and the agenda for disarmament. To conclude, Madam President, a world without -- with less nuclear proliferation will always be a world with more peace and security. Otherwise, as long as the current trend of the competition and the nuclear race prevails, world peace and stability will be under permanent threat. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Mozambique for their statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the United States. Thank you, Under Secretary General DeCarlo and Mr. Leff for your briefings. In vetoing the mandate renewal of the 1718 committee panel of experts, Russia sought to prevent crucial objective investigations into DPRK's violation of Security Council resolutions, to shield the world from the truth about the DPRK's dangerous actions and Russia's complicity in them. The loss of this committee makes organizations like Conflict Armament Research all the more critical, and the United States is grateful that its independent, well-regarded experts continue to provide clear and credible reporting on DPRK-related violations. These reports show why Russia was so desperate to overturn the mandate's renewal. Russia and the DPRK are engaging in unlawful arms transfers and training in brazen violation of numerous Council resolutions. Colleagues, Resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2270 collectively prohibit UN member states from receiving any arms, related material, arms training, or assistance from the DPRK or providing them to the DPRK. These resolutions were adopted in response to North Korea's nuclear tests. They are evidence of our sacred obligations to uphold international peace and security. Russia knows this. Russia voted for each and every one of these resolutions, and yet Russia has violated them in both directions. North Korea has now sent Russia more than 20,000 shipping containers of munitions to date, containing at least six million heavy artillery rounds, along with well over 100 ballistic missiles. The Center for Armament Research's independent findings corroborate what we have seen in press reporting and other open source analysis. These missiles have subsequently been launched into Ukraine, impacting near civilian infrastructure and populated areas such as Kyiv and Zaporizhia. And the DPRK continued preparations to transfer more missiles to Russia in late 2024. We also have information that a large number of DPRK-origin 170 millimeter long range self-propelled artillery pieces and 240 millimeter long range multiple rocket launchers are being introduced into the conflict. And now Russia turns to the DPRK for manpower as well as munitions in order to carry out its war of aggression against Ukraine, welcoming more than 11,000 DPRK troops onto its soil. And this is not from the press, this is from the DPRK. And not just any soldiers. North Koreans sent elite special forces units to Russia. This marks the first time North Korean troops have participated in large-scale ground combat operations in more than 70 years, and the first time they've done so outside the Korean Peninsula. And Russia is likely to use the deployment as a basis for future combined training exercises with the Korean People's Army. This is not a one-way street. The more Russia relies on the DPRK's support, the more the DPRK extracts in return, exacerbating threats to peace and security, not only in Europe, but across the globe. In recent months, Russia has provided training to DPRK troops in artillery, UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, an indication DPRK soldiers are participating in frontline operations and directly engaging in hostilities against Ukraine. We also have information that Russia has transferred air defense systems to the DPRK. The Kremlin continues to provide free and subsidized refined petroleum to the Kim regime above the UN mandated 500,000 barrel cap, as well as sell dual use technology and equipment. What's more, we are particularly concerned about Moscow's intent to share satellite and space technologies with Pyongyang, which the war in Ukraine has plainly demonstrated is crucial to an army's communications and intelligence gathering capability on the modern battlefield. And it continues to shield the DPRK from joint actions in this Council, obstructing DPRK sanctions implementations while attempting to escape reproach for its violations. Alarmingly, we assess that Russia may be close to accepting North Korea's nuclear weapons program, reversing Moscow's decade-long commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. We believe that Moscow will become more reluctant not only to criticize Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons, but also further obstruct passage of sanctions or resolutions condemning North Korea's destabilizing behavior, as we've already seen. Colleagues, every single one of us must call out this recklessness, every single one of us. For far too long, China has provided political cover for Russia's violation, emboldening the DPRK to continue its ballistic missiles launches among other dangerous provocative behavior. This is not the behavior of any responsible member state, let alone two permanent members of the council. Responsible Council members take seriously their duty to counter threats to international peace and security. Responsible Council members uphold resolutions that curb proliferation and remand recourse for human rights abuses. Responsible council members have no reason to fear independent, objective experts, and responsible council members do not enable tyrants for their own political gain. Colleagues, just two years ago, I visited Ukraine. I saw up close the devastation and despair, the mother in Kiev who had to hold her daughter's lifeless hand after a Russian attack on her apartment building, the child who desperately wanted to return to school, the humanitarian aid worker who was detained and tortured by Russian forces, so traumatized she could barely speak. I will never forget the horrors unleashed by Putin. But I will also never forget the resilience of the Ukrainian people. For years, they have defended their land, their freedom, their identity, and they have defended one another too, taking in neighbors who lost their homes, risking their lives to feed those in need, nursing often back to health, showing the world that community is a form of resistance. Today, they face new threats, dangerous threats. No veto can deny that harsh reality. I know that the people of Ukraine will continue to stand up to oppression, to imperialism, to reckless proliferation, but all of us must stand up with them. And so once again, the United States calls on Russia to cease military cooperation with the DPRK, to end the senseless war of aggression against Ukraine, and immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory within its internationally recognized borders. I also want to respond to China about engaging in dialogue with the DPRK. We have said repeatedly we are open to unconditional dialogue with the DPRK. Each time we've reached out, it has responded with a clenched fist. And we would welcome further dialogue with the DPRK as I speak here today. So finally, we have to continue to work to meet our responsibilities as members of this council to uphold the charter we have all sworn to protect. The people Ukraine, the people of Ukraine demand this of us. They deserve it from us. They deserve a just and lasting peace. So let us all do our part to help them realize that. Thank you very much. I resume my function as president of the council. The representative of China has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give them the floor.

President. Originally, I didn't plan to take the floor again, but just now you speak in the capacity of US representative repeatedly mentioned China, so I have no choice. In your statement, you distorted and smeared China's position and proposition on the issue of peninsula. I cannot accept that. As a responsible major country and permanent member of the Security Council, we have always upheld the principles and purposes of the charter and engage in peaceful settlement of the disputes. We have always promoted the political settlement of the situation issues, whether in Ukraine or on the peninsula. China has always speak out for peace and make efforts for peaceful settlement. We'll continue to do so. At the same time, we hope that the U.S. will play a positive role for the final settlement of these issues. Thank you.

I shall now make a further statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. I'm not going to respond directly because the issues that are on the floor now at hand is whether China has been giving support to Russia's efforts and protecting the ROK, sorry, protecting the DPRK. And we have seen that over and over in this council. So I leave where I started in my statement. I think that statement stands for what I said. So I thank you very much. And unless there is another response, I will now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

President, 2024, the roads are closed with its record as the most complicated and tragic year in the modern history. However, even today, We still witness the repetition of the abnormal practice at the UN Security Council, where discussion of the political matter directly related to the international peace and security are put aside, while some individual member states are unreasonably taking issue with independent sovereign state for the sake of their narrow geopolitical interest. This meeting is yet another example showing that the UN Security Council is neglecting its important duty assigned by the international community and abuse as an instrument of the United States for political pressure and platform of propaganda for spreading sinister public opinion. I strongly denounce the United States and its following forces for convening this unlawful meeting that turns black into white in pursuit of their selfish geopolitical interests without any regard for UN charter and recognized international law. United States, its allies are none other than the main culprits who have incited confrontation and discord among nations and committed senseless massacre of the civilian with irresponsible and illegal military intervention all the year around across the planet. Since outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, US military aid to Zelensky clique has far exceeded 60 billion US dollar. This fact alone is enough to know how much it has contributed to destruction of the peace and stability in the region and beyond. In particular, outgoing US administration allowed Ukraine to strike Russia's interior with US-supplied long-range weapon, and some other Western country followed suit. thus driving the Ukraine crisis to a more dangerous phase, giving rise to concern for outbreak of the new world war. It is also United States and its allies who have caused the present total chaos and disorder and the worst ever humanitarian disaster since World War II in the Middle East. The reckless military acts of the United States that seriously undermine international peace and security are already overstepping the limits on the Korean Peninsula as well. The United States has deployed tens of thousands of troops and all kinds of high-tech military hardware on permanent standby for several decades on the Korean Peninsula and stages aggressive, frantic war exercises annually. mobilizing its strategic nuclear assets. It has recently elevated its alliance with ROK to the nuke-based military bloc. Thus, outbreak of the nuclear war in Northeast Asia is no longer a possibility, but a matter of time. While indulging itself military intervention and war threatened against sovereign states around the world, United States has called for this meeting of the UN Security Council talking about alleged military engagement. This is truly example of the manifestation of the guilty party feeling shoot first. Whatever pro-US countries do, it is all legal and contribute to peace and security. But when anti-US sovereign state exercise legitimate right, It is all illegal and threaten peace and security. Such argument is totally unacceptable in any case, as a typical example of double standard. When it comes to normal development of the cooperative relation between sovereign states that fully conform with UN charter and international law, it's not a kind of the matter that anyone can interfere in. The Korea-Russia relationship is based on the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and the Russian Federation that comes into effect in recent weeks. It promotes welfare of the people of both countries and serves as the security mechanism for easing tension in the region and guaranteeing a strategic stability of the world. It becomes a positive contribution to international peace and security and can by no means be subject of the criticism. DPRK will never tolerate the arbitrary and high-handed practice of United States and its following forces in their attempt to impose hegemonic unipolar system of domination. It will fulfill its responsibility to defend a genuine international justice and to safeguard global peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of Korea for their statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Stravos Lambrounides, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

Thank you, Madam President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement. I would like to thank USG Rosemary DiCarlo and Mr. Jonah Lef for their briefings. President, I will focus my intervention around two main themes that are linked in an ever more dangerous way today. First, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued violation of its non-proliferation obligations. And second, the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, which constitutes a dangerous escalation and expansion of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, with serious and direct security implications not just for Europe, but globally. On non-proliferation, the nuclear and missile programs of the DPRK pose an immediate security threat to all countries and to the international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture as a whole. The DPRK must comply immediately with its obligations under UNSC resolutions by abandoning all its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programs, and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner and cease all related activities. Virtually everyone in this room has said this today, virtually everyone. All UN member states, especially members of the UN Security Council, must ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions. We stress that those sanctions remain fully in place despite the Russian veto that derailed the 1718 Committee's panel of experts from continuing its work. We also reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and urge the DPRK to take concrete steps towards this goal and to return to diplomacy. The DPRK will never be accepted as a nuclear weapons state. The DPRK must return to compliance, with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And furthermore, we urge the DPRK to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without any preconditions or further delay. Madam President, turning to the issue of the expansion of military cooperation between DPRK and Russia, including direct engagement in combat against Ukrainian armed forces. Let me stress again the EU's unequivocal and strong condemnation of such a significant, escalation in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The presence of thousands of DPRK troops cooperating with the Russian military constitutes a serious breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter and a flagrant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. This is a hostile act by the DPRK, which carries serious consequences for regional and global peace and security. Russia is knowingly spreading instability and escalation not just in Europe anymore, but also on the Korean Peninsula and in the wider Indo-Pacific region. But the DPRK and Russia have been deepening their military cooperation in other areas as well. There is clear evidence that the DPRK has been providing arms to Russia, including artillery shells and ballistic missiles, which Russia has used against Ukraine. Any arms exports or imports involving the DPRK are in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. Russia itself, a permanent member of this Council, is directly accountable for these violations. We urge third countries to cease all assistance to Russia's war of aggression. This includes not only direct military support but also the provision of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia's military-industrial base. President, the interlinked character of these developments is increasingly evident and alarming. The European Union is particularly concerned about the potential for any transfer of advanced military capabilities or technologies by Russia to the DPRK, including nuclear or ballistic missile related technology in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. In light of this, Russia's apparent shift of position on the denuclearization of the DPRK is highly suspect, dangerous and unacceptable. Russia abandons key obligations from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including to prevent nuclear proliferation, and violates multiple Security Council resolutions adopted by Russia's support, lest we forget. What is at stake is potentially monumental in terms of its proportions and its consequences for global international peace and security. This Council needs to intervene before it is too late. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Lambrinidis for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Well, thank you, Madam President. I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and Director Laav for their briefings. The direct involvement of DPRK troops in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is now a matter of fact. Starting at least from December 14th, numerous evidence, including video footage captured by Ukrainian drones, confirm the participation of North Korean soldiers in assaults on Ukrainian positions. The Russian forces have integrated these DPRK units into joint formations, employing them in operations against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. As seen in the video footage, North Korean troops utilize specific tactics. They primarily advance in large numbers on foot across open terrain and in extended chains. This approach bears a striking resemblance to infantry tactics employed during World War II, but is highly unusual for the Russian-Ukrainian war. Another notable feature is their lack of awareness regarding such modern weaponry as UAVs. Available video evidence reveals that North Korean soldiers seem unprepared to react to enemy drones and lack even the basic understanding of measures to counter drone-related threats. They have already suffered noticeable losses. As of 14 December, the estimated losses of units composed of Russian and North Korean personnel amount to about 200 servicemen. Against this backdrop, the DPRK continues to supply weapons and ammunition to Russia. In particular, since December 2023, the DPRK has transferred over 20,000 containers of munitions and military equipment, as well as over 100 ballistic missiles to Russia used by Moscow against Ukraine. The most recent case was registered last Friday when Russia used a DPRK missile in its massive strike against Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. The delegation of Ukraine informed the Security Council of the strike at the meeting on Monday. It should be stressed that through these arms transfers, Russia and the DPRK are flagrantly violating the UN arms embargo on the DPRK envisaged by multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Moreover, Russia's training of DPRK troops also violates the above resolutions. I wish to reiterate that neither Russia nor the DPRK would be able to produce missiles to the current amount if components manufactured by third countries were not available to Moscow and Pyongyang through various loopholes in sanctions regimes. Russia also uses the existing loopholes to provide its own military assistance to the DPRK, including sensitive technologies. No doubt, the components from third countries and military technologies from Russia, which likely include advanced ICBM technology, contribute significantly to the development of the DPRK nuclear and ballistic missile programs, including ICBMs. There are about 7,000 kilometers from the DPRK to Ukraine, and I do not need to remind the range of ICBMs and what countries are within this range. It clearly illustrates that the issue of Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula are not, are clearly not different issues. The actions of Moscow and Pyongyang have made them interconnected. These steps by Moscow and Pyongyang undermine international efforts aimed at achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. In this regard, we commend recent decisions by our partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia and the DPRK and call for further decisive measures on the matter. Due to Russia's expansion of the war against Ukraine, security in Europe and in the Inter-Pacific are now directly linked. Putin wants to create more problems for the world in Asia, and this is why the Russians are training North Korea in modern warfare. The actual involvement of North Korea in hostilities should be met with tangible pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang for the sake of compliance with the UN Charter and punishment of escalation. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Ukraine for their statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.