June 28, 2024
(The following is a joint statement, delivered by Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, on behalf of Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union.)
Good morning. Thank you for being here.
I would like to read a statement from Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union.
First, we would like to begin by condemning the DPRK’s more recent ballistic missile launch earlier this week.
Today we will hear from a leading, independent think tank on its findings related to remnants of ballistic missiles recovered in Ukraine, which it attributed to the DPRK.
Russia ended the mandate of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, depriving all UN Member States of critical information that helps them implement Security Council obligations. Russia’s elimination of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts unilaterally terminated 14 years of Council consensus supporting the Panel’s work.
However, Russia and the DPRK cannot bury public reporting, including on the unlawful arms transfers from the DPRK to Russia. Independent experts continue to publish reporting that fills this gap and keeps violations in the public eye.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms those unlawful transfers, which have significantly contributed to Russia’s ability to conduct its war against Ukraine.
The transfer of ballistic missiles, along with munitions and related materiel, from the DPRK to Russia violates multiple Security Council resolutions – namely, Resolution 1718 (2006), Resolution 1874 (2009), and Resolution 2270 (2016).
Last week, Russian and DPRK leaders signed a “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” paving the way for further deepening their military cooperation.
We are deeply concerned about the security implications of the advancement of this cooperation for Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region, and around the world.
The Council must fulfill its responsibility to monitor Member State implementation and counter the DPRK’s threat to international peace and security that undermines the global nonproliferation regime.
Thank you.