Seoul imposed sanctions against two companies from Russia for cooperation with the DPRK

The companies and their representatives, according to Seoul, collaborated with the DPRK in violation of UN sanctions. The Kremlin has stated that there is no agreement on military cooperation with Pyongyang. Moscow vetoed a resolution on sanctions experts in March

South Korea has imposed sanctions against two individuals and two legal entities from RUSSIA, who, according to Seoul, cooperate with the DPRK, Yonhap reports, citing the country's Foreign Ministry.

The companies Intellect and Sodeistvie, as well as their representatives Sergei Kozlov and Alexander Pamfilov, were included in the sanctions list. According to SOUTH KOREA, these companies are involved in “financing nuclear and missile development” of Pyongyang by attracting North Korean specialists to work in Russia.

Also subject to restrictions were two Russian ships - Lady R and Angara, which, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, transported military cargo between Russia and North Korea. UN Security Council sanctions prohibit the supply of weapons and related materiel to the DPRK.

In March , the US White House promised that Washington would gradually begin to release data confirming cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the military sphere. The United States has previously stated more than once that North Korea may provide military assistance to Russia. These data were refuted both in Moscow and Pyongyang. In September 2023, after the visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Russia, the Kremlin stated that the parties had not signed an agreement on military-technological cooperation and had no such plans.

On March 28, Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution to extend for a year the mandate of the group of experts monitoring compliance with the organization’s sanctions against North Korea (it was supported by 13 UN Security Council members, and CHINA abstained). Russia's permanent representative to the world organization Vasily Nebenzya said that the UN sanctions regime “is not just losing its relevance, it is extremely divorced from reality,” and the restrictions are aimed at “suffocating Pyongyang.” The Kremlin, in turn, said that the decision not to support the resolution corresponds to Russia's interests.

The resolution does not in any way affect the sanctions against North Korea themselves; they remain in force, AP notes.