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Statement by Permanent Representative of Ukraine, Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya at the UN Security Council meeting on “Non-proliferation / DPRK”

(28 June 2024)

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council,

I also recognize the continued occupation of the seat of the Soviet Union by the dictator’s envoy.

I would like to start by thanking Under-Secretary General Nakamitsu for her briefing. I also extend appreciation to Mr. Jonah Leff, Executive Director of Conflict Armament Research (CAR), for presenting CAR’s findings related to remnants of ballistic missiles recovered in Ukraine.

Today, the only thing that is closer to Ukrainians than the North Korean representative next to me is the North Korean missiles that kill Ukrainians.

Since the end of 2023, the Russian Federation has been using the DPRK’s origin ballistic missiles procured from Pyongyang in its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Among the DPRK’s missiles used by Moscow against my country at least 21 were found and examined by Ukrainian authorities.

However, today, I would like to focus on one particular case. As has already been mentioned, on 2 January 2024 the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine was struck by a few missiles. The inspection of the remnants of one of the ballistic missiles conducted by Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the missile originated in the DPRK.

In this regard, Ukraine also provided CAR, which has been working in Ukraine since 2018, with the opportunity to physically document the debris of a ballistic missile that struck Kharkiv on 2 January 2024. As stated today by CAR’s Executive Director, the Organization concluded that the remnants of the ballistic missile launched at Kharkiv originated in the DPRK.

Mr. President,

The transfer of ballistic missiles, along with any other arms and related material, from the DPRK to Russia flagrantly violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) – namely, resolution 1718 (2006), resolution 1874 (2009), and resolution 2270 (2016).

Ukraine has been informing the UN Security Council about violations of the arms embargo by the DPRK and Russia for 6 months already.

In this regard, I would like to mention that in response to the relevant request of the 1718 Committee’s Panel of Experts in January 2024 Ukraine provided the Panel with evidence-based information on this matter.

In its final report the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts confirmed the receipt of relevant information from Ukraine which the Panel was examining.

Russia ended the mandate of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, depriving UN member states of fact-based, objective, independent assessments, analysis, and recommendations on the implementation of UN sanctions on the DPRK.

As has been just mentioned by some Council Members, on 17-19 April 2024, at the invitation of Ukraine, the Panel of Experts of the 1718 Committee visited my country to inspect the debris of a missile found in Kharkiv on 2 January this year.

As also reported by a few Council Members and by the media, the Panel concluded that the debris recovered from a missile that landed in Kharkiv on 2 January 2024 derives from a DPRK Hwasong 11-series missile.

It was also confirmed that no evidence was found that the missile was of Russian manufacture. Finally, the experts concluded that the missile constitutes a violation by DPRK of paragraph 8 (b) of Security Council resolution 1718 (2006) which prohibits Pyongyang from exporting such items.

Mr. President,

We are concerned that further developments in a menacing direction may follow last week’s signing by the Russian and DPRK leaders of the so-called “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. As this agreement effectively paves the way for further deepening of military cooperation between Russia and DPRK, the impact on the security situation both in our region and on the Korean peninsula could be detrimental.

Ukraine highlights the importance of further monitoring by the 1718 Committee of reports of use of DPRK missiles and conventional weapons by Russia.

We also urge all UN Member States, including all members of the United Nations Security Council, to join us in condemning Russia and the DPRK’s flagrant UNSC resolution violations, as well as to utilize existing UN mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of Pyongyang’s weapons and ammunition, and, accordingly, an increase in security threats to Europe and Asia.

Thank you, Mr. President.