Statement by the delegation of Ukraine
at the High-level UNGA plenary meeting to address the human rights abuses and violations being committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
20 May 2025, UNGA Hall
President,
First, I would like to express our gratitude to Assistant Secretary-General Ilze Brands Kehris, Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Salmon, and all the briefers for their substantive presentations and impactful first-hand testimonies.
Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity.
We remain deeply concerned about the dire human rights situation in the DPRK. For decades, there has been no meaningful progress, nor any constructive engagement by the DPRK with the international community or relevant UN mandates.
Beyond the severe domestic repression of its own people, the Pyongyang regime has expanded its destabilizing role internationally by openly supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine — a war marked by some of the gravest violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. This support includes the transfer of weapons to the Russian Federation, which are used to destroy civilian infrastructure and kill civilians, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
According to open-source data, the DPRK currently supplies approximately 50% of Russia’s ammunition needs, including about 4 million artillery shells, multiple launch rocket systems and short-range ballistic missiles. This is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, in the autumn of 2024, North Korea reportedly deployed a military contingent to support Russia, estimated at 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers.
We commend the Special Rapporteur for addressing these critical issues in her latest report (A/HRC/58/65), which reflects the gravity of this development.
North Korean soldiers have been used by Russia as cannon fodder.
According to some testimonies from captured DPRK servicemen, their commanders kept them in dark, not telling that they will be sending to fight against Ukrainians.
According to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, DPRK military losses in Russia’s war have reached nearly 5,000 killed and wounded. Of the three North Korean brigades deployed, one has been completely eliminated, while the other two have suffered significant casualties.
The recent public acknowledgment by dictators Putin and Kim Jong-un of DPRK troop participation in Russia’s war effort marks the emergence of a dangerous axis of evil. This alliance not only contributes to the further escalation of aggression but also poses a broader threat to international peace and security.
Instead of aiding foreign wars, the DPRK should redirect its resources to address the critical needs of its own people, who continue to suffer under an oppressive regime.
We call on the DPRK to immediately cease its support for Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine and to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. We also urge the international community to hold the DPRK accountable for its actions — both at home and abroad.
Thank you.