North Korea Protests Seoul-EU Rebuke of Russia Ties

North Korea denounced on Saturday a joint statement by South Korea and the European Union that condemned Pyongyang's military ties with Russia throughout the war in Ukraine.

The statement, adopted on Wednesday during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Brussels, decried the “illegal military cooperation” between Pyongyang and Moscow.

“We condemn support by third parties, in particular the DPRK, which enables Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.

North Korea's foreign ministry said in response that cooperation with Russia was an “exercise of sovereign rights,” and the joint statement a “clear infringement on the sovereignty of our state and a grave hostile act.”

The ministry's statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, reiterated that South Korea was the North's primary “enemy state.”

It went on to describe Seoul as Washington's “favorite dagger” in its alleged aim of "invading... the Asian continent.”

This was an apparent reference to remarks by the top American military official in South Korea, General Xavier Brunson, who compared his host nation last month to “the dagger in the heart of Asia.”

Both North Korea and its ally China have previously denounced Brunson's remarks, saying they reflected Washington's strategy to contain Beijing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has boosted an alliance with Russia's Vladimir Putin by sending troops and munitions to aid Moscow's war.

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once

Monthly

Annual

Continue

Not ready to support today?

Remind me later.