Russian Ambassador to U.S, Anatoly Antonov has rebuked Washington on its remarks concerning North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia and his meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Kim Jong Un met Russian President, Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s far eastern Amur region on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
During their talks, Kim voiced North Korea’s support for the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership, adding that “we will be together in the fight against imperialism.”
The United States has voiced concerns that Kim could provide weapons and ammunition to Russia.
The U.S Department of State Spokesperson, Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that U.S President Joe Biden’s administration “won’t hesitate” to impose more sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude any new arms deals.
It was troubling that Russia and North Korea were discussing increased cooperation that could violate UN Security Council resolutions, he said.
“The U.S. has no right to lecture us on how to live,” Antonov said.
Aside stating that Washington cannot dictate how Moscow should act, Antonov stressed that Russia being a responsible nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, can independently decide who to cooperate with.
“The attempts to label the productive and mutually beneficial Russian-North Korean dialogue as a driver of instability are not only surprising but also repulsive.”
Anatoly Antonov
The U.S, Antonov said, had built up a coalition in Asia, expanded military drills near the Korean peninsula and was supplying billions of dollars of weapons to Ukraine.
“How should we then regard the White House’s efforts to build up coalitions in Asia Pacific and expand military drills near the Korean Peninsula, with deploying U.S. strategic assets?” he noted.
Antonov Accuses U.S Of Hypocrisy
Moreover, Antonov pointed to the United States’ janus-faced approach to Russia’s relations with North Korea, saying, “Washington’s hypocrisy is no longer a surprise. “
He noted that the U.S. is “OK with delivering weapons to the ‘hot spot.’”
“At the same time, following the Administration’s logics, Russia’s military and technical cooperation with foreign countries is unlawful. Our partners are once again being threatened with sanctions and Moscow, presumably, will also suffer consequences.”
Anatoly Antonov
He added, “Local Russophobes, however, are unlikely to find new ways to infringe on our interests, taking into consideration the uncountable restrictions already imposed on Russia.”
“It is high time for Washington to throw its economic sanctions into the landfill and give a thought on how to build an equal relationship with other states on the basis of the principle of indivisible security.”
Anatoly Antonov
“Maintaining unipolar dominance beloved by American officials is no longer possible,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), noted in a statement that Putin is “likely concerned” that Russia’s relationship with North Korea might affect its sanction dodging schemes.
In the statement posted on X social media platform, ISW said, “Putin also stated that Russia continues to comply with restrictions on military-technical cooperation with North Korea but noted that within the ‘framework of the current rules, there are opportunities’.”
“[He] is likely neutrally portraying his meeting with Kim Jong Un in order to balance Russia’s interest in acquiring North Korean artillery munitions with concerns about the risk of triggering secondary international sanctions on Russia due to potential trade with North Korea.”
Institute for the Study of War
READ ALSO: ACSC Calls On Government To Engineer Security Reforms
