Supporters of Ukraine impose fresh sanctions on Russia and North Korea

The US, EU, and South Korea have enacted new sanctions targeting Moscow and Pyongyang due to their heightened military collaboration. Read Full Article at RT.com.

Supporters of Ukraine impose fresh sanctions on Russia and North Korea
The US, EU, and South Korea have reacted strongly to the escalating military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang, announcing new sanctions targeting both nations. These sanctions come amid allegations that North Korea is sending troops to assist in the conflict in Ukraine. Japan has indicated it may impose similar restrictions.

On Monday, the US Treasury Department revealed that its latest sanctions are focused on North Korean banks, generals, and various officials, as well as Russian oil shipping companies.

On Tuesday, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced it has placed 11 individuals and 15 entities, linked to alleged "illegal military cooperation" between Russia and North Korea, on a blacklist. Among those blacklisted is Ri Pong Chun, a general purportedly leading North Korean troops positioned at the front lines in Ukraine.

The EU also responded by incorporating North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and deputy chief of the general staff Kim Yong Bok into its 15th round of sanctions against Russia. The sanctions package also includes measures against 52 other individuals and 30 entities, mainly Russian defense firms and shipping companies, alongside over 50 vessels tied to Russian energy exports.

These actions follow a joint statement issued on Monday by G7 nations along with South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, which condemned the growing military ties between North Korea and Russia, specifically highlighting the alleged deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for battlefield efforts in Ukraine.

The G7 group promised "coordinated sanctions action," warning that North Korea’s "direct support" for Russia's military actions represents a significant escalation in the conflict, with serious ramifications for security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Reports in Western media have suggested that North Korean troops are being sent to Russia, a claim that the Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied. In October, the Pentagon estimated that North Korea might have dispatched 10,000 troops to Russia, with some potentially headed to the Kursk Region, where Ukraine executed an incursion in August. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky asserted last month that North Korea could send as many as 100,000 troops to aid its efforts against Ukraine.

During the BRICS Summit in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow's relationship with Pyongyang is grounded in a defense partnership treaty established earlier this year. He mentioned that this treaty includes mutual defense agreements, allowing for military support if either nation is attacked. According to Putin, the specific implementation of this clause is left to Moscow and Pyongyang.

In a similar vein, North Korea’s ambassador to the UN, Kim Song, affirmed last month that Pyongyang would diligently uphold its treaty obligations, asserting that such commitments are in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter.

Frederick R Cook for TROIB News