Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Thank you, Mr. President,

I thank USG DiCarlo and Ms. Wosornu for their detailed briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Ukrainian, Polish, German, Estonian, Italian, and EU delegations at today’s meeting. 

For almost two years, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has incurred unspeakable suffering on the people of the Ukraine. My delegation is deeply concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground. It is indeed alarming to see the indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure intensifying since the last month. Those brutal attacks have targeted residential buildings, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and shopping malls. According to the UN, nearly 100 civilians were killed and more than 400 injured due to airstrikes since December 29th . 

These strikes have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and water, exacerbating the already harsh living conditions for Ukrainians during this cold winter season.

Furthermore, a cyberattack took place on Ukraine’s largest mobile network operator, impeding the access of millions of Ukrainian people to vital communications services last month, according to the recent UN OCHA report.

Such actions are prohibited according to international humanitarian law, and my delegation emphasizes that there can be no impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes under international law. 

Mr. President, 

Besides waging an illegal war of aggression and violating international humanitarian law, the Russian Federation is also relying on weapons illegally provided by the DPRK. As my delegation has repeatedly pointed out, any arms procurement from the DPRK are violations of multiple Security Council resolutions that Russia itself voted in favor of. 

Short-range ballistic missiles supplied by the DPRK hit Ukraine on December 30th , January 2nd, and January 6th . We strongly condemn the DPRK’s export of ballistic missiles and launchers, as well as Russia’s use of them against Ukraine.

By exporting missiles to Russia, the DPRK used Ukraine as a test site of its nuclear-capable missiles, in wanton disregard of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and safety of the Ukrainian people. 

The introduction of North Korean missiles into the war in Ukraine has a significant implication on global nuclear non-proliferation. Some experts assess that the missiles fired into Ukraine are KN-23, which the DPRK claims can deliver nuclear-warheads. 

For the ROK, this comes as a clear and present demonstration of the existential threat. One of the missiles flew 460km, exactly the same distance between Wonsan, a typical DPRK missile launch site, and Busan, the largest port city of the ROK. From the ROK standpoint, it amounts to a simulated attack. 

And as these launches provide valuable technical and military insights to the DPRK, it can be further encouraged to export ballistic missiles to other countries and rake in new revenue to further finance its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The DPRK missiles used in Ukraine are posing new challenges that require our joint response.

My delegation calls on all Council Members to make an extraordinary effort to curb the DPRK’s provocations and its nuclear programs. The Security Council’s inaction to date has only embolden the Pyongyang regime; and continued inaction would further embolden it. As such, we need to rein in the unbridled offender before it is too late. The only thing necessary for the bad to triumph is for the good to do nothing. At the same time, all Member States must fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions. In particular, we urge Russia to stop its military cooperation with the DPRK. 

Mr. President, 

Turning again to Ukraine, my delegation once again urges to the Russian Federation, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, entrusted as one of the exclusive, ultimate guardians of world peace, to immediately withdraw its military forces from the territory of Ukraine and end the untold humanitarian suffering that this illegal war has caused. 

Currently, approximately 17.6 million Ukrainian people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with those near the frontlines exposed to an even more dire situation including acute food shortages. The war has created millions of internally displaced people and refugees around the globe.

The deteriorating humanitarian situation and mass displacement increased risks of sexual violence and trafficking, especially for women and girls. 

In concluding, my delegation expresses our solidarity with Ukraine in fighting for its sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. In this connection, we will maintain our support for Ukraine in the areas of security, humanitarian affairs, and reconstruction, as President Yoon Suk Yeol announced during his visit to Ukraine in July. 

I thank you, Mr. President. 

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