Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union is deeply concerned by reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is sending troops to participate in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. This would constitute a serious violation of international law, including the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. It would be a unilateral act of aggression by the DPRK with serious consequences for European and global peace and security. This development once again demonstrates how Russia is spreading instability and escalation in the region and around the world. This is what was stated in a statement distributed by the European Union institutions in Brussels, which also stated: “The European Union strongly condemns the deepening military cooperation and arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia, which grossly violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The EU urges the DPRK to stop providing support to Russia’s illegal war efforts. The deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK sends a clear message: despite its stated readiness to negotiate, Russia is not genuinely interested in a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. On the contrary, Russia continues to escalate and desperately seeks any assistance for its war, including from actors that seriously disrupt global peace and security. In addition, with the worrying shift in its position on the denuclearization of the DPRK, as expressed by Foreign Minister Lavrov, Russia is abandoning its key obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including nuclear non-proliferation, and is violating multiple UN Security Council resolutions adopted with Russia’s support. In doing so, Russia abdicates its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a member state of the United Nations. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the NPT. The DPRK’s continued support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrates how closely European security is linked to the security of the Indo-Pacific region. The EU will coordinate with international partners on this issue, including on responses.