“The involvement of North Korean troops and the testing of new missiles in Ukraine – these escalating steps are a new phase in the war and a new risk for the security of Europe as a whole”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The corresponding resolution was approved by 390 deputies, 135 were “against” and 52 abstained.
The MPs condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and the testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine – these recent escalating steps are a new phase in the war and a new risk to the security of Europe as a whole.
Condemning Iran, Belarus and North Korea for their military support to Russia, the European Parliament called on EU member states to further strengthen the regime of sanctions against these countries.
MEPs also called on Beijing to end all military or dual-use aid it provides to Russia, adding that a refusal to change course risks seriously affecting bilateral relations between the EU and China.
EU member states and NATO allies must undertake to support Ukraine militarily both collectively and individually, allocating at least 0.25% of their GDP annually, the resolution states.
Read also: Kislytsia in the UN Security Council: North Korea is “a criminal regime that helps another criminal regime”
On November 24, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation announced that there are more than 11,000 North Korean troops in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, and they have already participated in battles against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Intelligence services of Ukraine, Western countries and South Korea previously reported on the sending of North Korean troops to the combat zone in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. It is claimed that about 12,000 North Korean troops from amphibious assault units were provided to Moscow.
The participation of the North Korean military in the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the first large-scale deployment of North Korean troops abroad and their first use in Europe. North Korea is under the toughest international sanctions in the world. Any military cooperation with it was prohibited by the order of the UN Security Council.
Moscow, which was involved in the development and implementation of these restrictions, later called them obsolete as it stepped up its military cooperation with Pyongyang.