Defying the UN: North Korea Faces Condemnation from Korea, U.S., and Japan

South Korea, the United States, and Japan held the 14th Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) via video conference on the 24th, condemning North Korea’s violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the launch of military reconnaissance satellites and arms support for Russia. According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 25th, Director of the Policy Bureau for the South Korean Ministry of National Defense Cho Chang Rae, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, and Director of the Defense Policy Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Defense Koji Kano, each attended as senior representatives.At this meeting, the representatives of the three countries pointed out that North Korea’s diversification of nuclear delivery systems, multiple ballistic missile launches, launches of military reconnaissance satellites using ballistic missile technology, and illegal transfers and arms shipments for Russia have violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

In particular, the representatives emphasized that if North Korea were to carry out a seventh nuclear test, it would face a firm response from the international community.

The three representatives mentioned the expiration of the mandate of the UN expert panel monitoring the implementation of Security Council sanctions against North Korea due to Russia’s veto. They agreed to strengthen efforts to effectively implement sanctions against North Korea.

They reaffirmed that strengthening security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan contributes significantly to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula.

The three representatives also shared concerns about actions that do not follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They emphasized the importance of fully respecting international law regarding the freedom of navigation and overflight and sent a message targeting China’s maritime expansion in the South China Sea.

They also emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, curbing China’s aggressive attitude towards Taiwan.

Regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they pointed out it as a severe violation of territorial preservation and the principle of sovereignty, expressing their solidarity with Ukraine against the unjust and illegal war of aggression.

The three representatives agreed to hold the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks in South Korea in the second half of this year.