Brussels, 24 October 2024
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on reports of the DPRK sending troops to Russia
The European Union is deeply alarmed by reports that the DPRK is sending troops to participate in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. This would constitute a serious breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter. It would be a unilateral hostile act by the DPRK with serious consequences for European and global peace and security. This development also illustrates once again how Russia is spreading instability and escalation in the region and across the globe.
The European Union strongly condemns the deepening military cooperation and arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia, which flagrantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. The EU urges the DPRK to stop providing support to Russia’s illegal war efforts.
Russia’s deepening military cooperation with the DPRK sends a clear message: despite its stated readiness to negotiate, Russia is not sincerely interested in a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. On the contrary, Russia is escalating and desperately seeking any help for its war, including from actors that are severely disrupting global peace and security.
In addition, with its disturbing shift of position on the denuclearisation of the DPRK, as expressed by Foreign Minister Lavrov, Russia relinquishes its key obligations from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) including to prevent nuclear proliferation and violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions adopted with Russia’s support. By doing so, Russia compromises its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a UN member state. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon State in accordance with the NPT.
The DPRK’s ongoing support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine illustrates how closely linked European security is to that of the Indo-Pacific. The European Union will coordinate with international partners on the matter, including on responses.
Source – EU Council