United Nations experts have determined that a missile originating from North Korea landed within the confines of Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The monitors from the United Nations have elucidated that the Hwasong-11 series of ballistic missiles, initially unveiled by Pyongyang in 2019, were the armaments in question. In a communiqué disclosed to a Security Council committee and obtained by Reuters on Monday, United Nations sanctions monitors have confirmed that the remnants recovered from a missile incident in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on January 2nd, were attributable to a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile. The monitors underscored that this finding constitutes a blatant breach of the arms embargo imposed on North Korea. Under the formal designation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea has been subject to United Nations sanctions since 2006, owing to its persistent pursuit of ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities. Over the years, these sanctions have been incrementally bolstered. A delegation comprising three sanctions monitors journeyed to Ukraine earlier this month to conduct an on-site examination of the debris. Their investigation yielded no indication implicating Russia in the manufacture of the missile. Furthermore, they were unable to ascertain the precise origin of the launch or the identity of the responsible party. According to the monitors' report to the North Korea sanctions committee of the Security Council, insights gleaned from Ukrainian authorities suggest that the missile was launched from within the territorial bounds of the Russian Federation. The monitors hypothesize that if the missile was indeed under the control of Russian forces, its presence on Russian soil would likely indicate procurement by Russian nationals, thereby constituting a flagrant contravention of the longstanding arms embargo against North Korea. The diplomatic missions of both Russia and North Korea at the United Nations Headquarters in New York have yet to issue a response to the aforementioned report. Accusations have been levied by the United States and other parties, asserting North Korea's facilitation of weapon transfers to Russia for deployment against Ukraine, a nation it invaded in February 2022. While both Moscow and Pyongyang have refuted these allegations, they have publicly pledged to deepen military cooperation. During a session of the UN Security Council in February, the United States accused Russia of orchestrating the launch of DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukraine on multiple occasions. The monitors also noted that the Hwasong-11 series of ballistic missiles was first publicly tested by Pyongyang in 2019.

Of significant note, Russia recently exercised its veto power to block the annual renewal of the mandate for the UN sanctions monitors, colloquially known as the panel of experts, responsible for overseeing compliance with UN sanctions against North Korea pertaining to its nuclear and ballistic missile endeavors. The current panel's mandate is set to expire imminently. In the immediate aftermath of the January 2nd incident, the prosecutor's office of the Kharkiv region publicly exhibited fragments of the missile to the media, highlighting disparities from Russian-made models and suggesting a potential origin from North Korea.

City: United Nations