North Korea Rejects New Sanctions, Affirms Economic and Defence Interests
North Korea's Response to International Sanctions
Official Statement from North Korea
SEOUL, Sept 21 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Monday it would not tolerate what it called hostile forces' efforts to curb Pyongyang's cooperation with other countries, adding that no new sanctions would block its development or defence of its core interests, state media KCNA reported, citing a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Accusations Against the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT)
The statement accused the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), a group of 11 UN members that tracks and reports violations and evasion of sanctions, of fabricating a report aimed at portraying what North Korea described as normal, mutually beneficial economic co-operation between itself and other countries as illegal, KCNA said.
Details of the MSMT Report
Alleged Labour Violations and Financial Impact
The MSMT said in a report issued on September 16 that North Korea continued to send labourers overseas in breach of UN Security Council resolutions, generating an estimated $450 million to $800 million in 2025 to fund its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
Scope of North Korean Overseas Workers
It estimated that 35,600 to 101,280 North Korean workers remain active in at least 17 countries, mainly China and Russia, and called for countries to immediately enforce UN resolutions by repatriating North Korean workers and refusing new work permits.
Participating States in the MSMT
MSMT participating states include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the report said.
(Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)
