NK envoy calls Russia's use of Pyongyang missiles 'groundless accusation'
North Korea's Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song speaks during a U.N. session in New York in this undated file photo captured from the U.N. website. Yonhap
North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations has dismissed the claim that Russia launched North Korean missiles into Ukraine in its war against the country as a "groundless accusation," Pyongyang's state media said Friday.
Ambassador Kim Song made the remarks in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency after members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the arms transfers between the North and Russia as a violation of multiple UNSC resolutions in a session on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the White House revealed that Pyongyang had provided Moscow with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used to strike Ukrainian targets on Dec. 30, and Jan. 2 and 6.
Kim accused the U.S. of "illegalizing the legitimate relations between independent sovereign states" and said the North "does not feel the need to comment on every U.S. groundless accusation."
"The U.S. pulled up the DPRK which has nothing to do with the discussion of agenda items," Kim said, referring to the North by the acronym of its official name. "This is the vivid reflection of their plight in the tight corner and only reveals its insufficient might and means in the strategic confrontation with Russia."
During the UNSC session on the maintenance of peace in Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vasily Nebenzya rejected the revelation, saying the U.S. appears to be "spreading information that is wrong."
South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs denounced Kim's statement and reiterated that such arms transactions are illegal.
"Despite repeated denials by both countries, it is apparent that the arms transfers between Russia and North Korea are a fact," Kim In-ae, deputy ministry spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
"We again emphasize that the arms transfers between North Korea and Russia are a violation of UNSC sanctions as well as an illegal act that undermines the rules of the international community," Kim said.
Following the revelation earlier this week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual for their involvement in the transfer and testing of North Korean ballistic missiles for Russia's use against Ukraine. (Yonhap)