Russia has declared that the issue of “denuclearizing” North Korea is a “closed issue.”
According to Reuters, on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that “Russia would stand alongside North Korea in resisting expanded nuclear deterrence by the U.S. alongside South Korea and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region,” adding, “In these conditions, the very term of denuclearization as applied to North Korea has lost all meaning. For us, this is a closed issue.”
He also emphasized that Russia strongly opposes the reckless sanctions imposed by Western countries and rejects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution on North Korea.
Lavrov asserted that they have firmly opposed the IAEA’s adoption of the Resolution on Safeguards in the DPRK. As the Resolution could not reach the assembly, they declared the rejection of the draft resolution from the West. He stressed that Russia and North Korea will strengthen their friendship and cooperation against a common adversary.
Last week, the Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference held at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, adopted a resolution calling for suspending North Korea’s nuclear program by consensus (without a vote).
At that time, the Russian representative did not call for a vote, allowing the resolution to pass by consensus. However, Lavrov emphasized that Russia had clearly stated its opposition to the IAEA resolution, highlighting that it was not a unanimous agreement.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have tightened significantly. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, where he signed a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, including military cooperation.
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