Statement by Chargée d’Affaires of Ukraine to the United Nations Khrystyna Hayovyshyn at the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT)

1st Report Rollout Event

(17 July 2025)

 

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I would like to thank the Republic of Korea, the United States, and other Member States participating in the MSMT for organizing this important 1st report rollout event. I am also grateful to Mr. Bailey and Mr. Youn for their informative briefings.

Ukraine highly appreciates the work of the MSMT aimed at monitoring and reporting on violations and evasions of UN sanctions on the DPRK following Russia’s use of veto on the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1718 Committee, which led to the termination of activities of the Panel.

It is important to highlight that the findings of the report by the MSMT
contain evidence of the flagrant violations of international law and multiple UN Security Council resolutions through unlawful military cooperation — including arms transfers — between the DPRK and Russia.

Importantly, the report reflects information on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to support the latter’s war against Ukraine. In this regard, it is worth recalling that any training of North Korean soldiers involving arms or related materiel is a violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), and 2270 (2016).

As of today, arms and ammunition of DPRK origin are actively used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, Moscow is using KN-23 ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukrainian peaceful cities. Recently, Russia also managed to improve the precision of these missiles.

In return for the DPRK’s support, Moscow provides Pyongyang with financial assistance, equipment, technologies and support in overcoming international isolation.

For the purpose of further monitoring of the implementation of the UN sanctions on the DPRK by the MSMT, we believe that the following information needs to be taken into consideration:

• DPRK supplies up to 40 per cent of Russia's ammunition and it is expected that the transfer of weapons from the DPRK to Russia will continue.
• Russia and the DPRK have agreements in force on the beginning of the creation of capabilities to produce Garpiya ad Geran drones on the territory of North Korea.
• Out of the three brigades of the North Korean military in the Kursk region, one was completely destroyed and two suffered losses. However, thousands of DPRK troops remain in the Kursk region.
• Approximately 25,000 of laborers could be sent to Russia within the next months. In the nearest time the DPRK is expected to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders in the Kursk region.

We call on UN Member States to unequivocally condemn the military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, including arms transfers and training of DPRK soldiers in violation of international law and multiple UN Security Council resolutions and hold these countries accountable. In this regard, the international community should also work together at the UN Security Council and the 1718 Committee to take effective measures, including by designating additional individuals, entities, and vessels that engage in DPRK-related sanctions evasion.

Thank you.