The United States has obtained information suggesting that there are currently 8,000 North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region, Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood informed the Security Council on Thursday.
“I have a very respectful question for my Russian colleague: Does Russia still maintain that there are no DPRK troops in Russia?” Wood inquired, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Russian representative at the 15-member Security Council meeting did not respond to Wood’s question. Moscow has neither denied nor confirmed the presence of North Korean troops. After initially denying the deployment, North Korea has since defended it as compliant with international law.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In August this year, Ukrainian forces advanced into the Russian border region of Kursk, where they continue to hold territory.
The US, Britain, South Korea, Ukraine, and others accuse Russia of violating UN resolutions and the UN Charter by deploying North Korean troops. North Korea has long been under UN sanctions aimed at halting its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. On Wednesday, Ukraine identified three North Korean generals it claims are accompanying the Asian nation’s troops in Russia.
The US and China also clashed at the Security Council on Thursday over Washington’s accusations that Beijing is providing substantial support to Russia’s defence industry.
Wood remarked that China cannot legitimately position itself as a champion of peace while facilitating Russia’s continuation of the most significant conflict in Europe in decades. He emphasised that China’s support for Russia is crucial and extends the duration of the war.
China’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Geng Shuang countered, saying, “We oppose the US practice of smearing China regarding Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Chinese companies and entities.”
Shuang maintained that China has not supplied weapons to any party involved in the Ukraine conflict and strictly manages dual-use items—products usable for both military and civilian purposes—according to international rules.
The United States imposed sanctions on Wednesday on nearly 400 entities and individuals from more than a dozen countries, including China, to counter evasion of measures imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Frances Ibiefo
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