North Korea: North Korea on Monday criticized a monitoring group on the enforcement of UN sanctions against Pyongyang for publishing a report on military cooperation with Russia, stating that the action infringes on a state’s sovereign rights.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) issued a report on Thursday highlighting illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which contravenes UN Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.
The chief of the external policy office at North Korea’s foreign ministry accused the MSMT of a “political provocation” by allegedly fabricating a report concerning cooperative ties between North Korea and Russia, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea criticized the MSMT as a “bogus group” lacking legitimacy in its existence and purpose. The official described the report as a violation of international legal principles related to sovereignty equality and non-interference in others’ internal affairs, according to Yonhap news agency.
North Korea further stated that the MSMT acts as a “political tool” aligned with Western geopolitical interests, arguing that it lacks the justification to investigate the sovereign rights of other countries.
The MSMT was formed in October last year through an initiative by South Korea and the United States to continue monitoring sanctions on North Korea after the UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions was disbanded due to Russia’s veto.