Hwang Joon-kook, the Ambassador to the United Nations, criticized North Korea’s announcement of a new hypersonic missile, which was a test launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), by saying, “The missile launch on the 6th is a blatant example of where ‘blood money’ ultimately ends up.”
During a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on the 8th local time, where North Korea’s ballistic missile launch was on the agenda, Ambassador Hwang stated, “North Korea is sacrificing its own people to fulfill its nuclear ambitions and is further contributing to death and destruction in Ukraine.”
Quoting a verse from the Bible (Genesis 4), Hwang urged, “The blood of soldiers is crying out from the ground; this must be stopped immediately.”
He also commented, “The North Korean military has suffered significant losses after participating in Russia’s illegal war. North Korean soldiers, who are not familiar with modern warfare and use outdated human-wave tactics, have become easy targets for drone attacks. The South Korean government estimates there to be at least 1,100 casualties.”
Ambassador Hwang criticized that North Korean soldiers, essentially brainwashed into being Kim Jong-un’s ‘slaves,’ are dying on distant front lines in exchange for funding and military technology for the regime.
Dorothy Shea, Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations, also condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on the 6th in the “strongest possible terms,” saying, “Like the over 100 ballistic missile launches North Korea has conducted since 2022, this is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions.”
Shea mentioned that Russia transferred air defense systems to North Korea as part of their support, stating, “We are particularly concerned about Moscow’s intention to share satellite and space technology with Pyongyang.”
She further expressed concern that “North Korea is gaining considerable benefits by receiving Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, thereby enhancing its war-fighting capabilities against neighboring countries.”
Meanwhile, Kim Sung, North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, claimed during the meeting that “the new hypersonic IRBM test is part of North Korea’s national defense development plan, aimed at enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of strategic deterrence in line with the changing regional security environment,” asserting it as “a legitimate exercise of sovereignty.”
The meeting was convened at the request of six Security Council member states, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Slovenia, and Denmark.
[Photo Source: Yonhap News / UN WebTV Capture]
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