North Korea Threatens Nations Enforcing UN Sanctions to Reconsider Positions

On the 13th, North Korea criticized the recent intensification of surveillance by UN member countries to implement the Security Council’s sanctions against North Korea, calling it a “provocative act that led to escalating tensions and destabilization.”

The director of the Foreign Policy Department of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed serious concern about the irresponsible behavior of some countries that are taking advantage of the U.S.’s hostile policy and hegemonic strategy against independent and sovereign nations in a speech announced through the Korean Central News Agency, demanding an immediate halt.

North Korea claimed that recently, countries like the UK, Canada, Germany, France, and New Zealand have been sending warships and military aircraft to the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region, escalating military tension in the region.

Previously, the South Korean and British navies conducted joint maritime patrols near the Korean Peninsula in April to implement sanctions against North Korea.

This operation was part of the “Downing Street Accord” adopted during the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London last November, with South Korea’s surface ship and maritime patrol aircraft and Britain’s surface ship participating. It is known that the navies of both countries monitored North Korea’s illicit maritime oil transfer activities.

North Korea stated, “The military intervention by the above-mentioned countries under the guise of implementing UN Security Council resolutions and complying with international law not only contradicts the purpose and principles of the UN Charter, which is based on sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs but also poses a tangible threat to the peace and security of not only the Korean Peninsula but also the entire Asia-Pacific region.”

It added, “If engagement through force is their policy toward North Korea, we have no choice but to reconsider our policy stance against them to suit our interests” and warned, “Based on a strict analysis of the negative impact caused by the worrying actions of some countries engaged in the so-called sanctions monitoring activities against North Korea, we will explore necessary measures to thoroughly defend the sovereignty and safety of the nation.”