China Denies Knowledge of North Korea-Russia Weapon Deal

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that he was unaware of any weapons trade between North Korea and Russia./Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The Chinese government has stated that it is unaware of the situation regarding the report submitted to the United Nations Security Council by the UK, which contains evidence of a weapons trade between North Korea and Russia.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this statement during a regular briefing on January 23, in response to a foreign journalist’s question about China’s stance on the satellite images of Russian ships carrying cargo from North Korea, which is contained in the report submitted to the UN Expert Panel by the UK.

According to well-informed sources in Beijing, the satellite images in question reveal that from September to December, three Russian ships loaded containers at the Najin port in North Korea and then moved to a Russian port. These three ships, the ‘Maya’, ‘Angara’, and ‘Maria’, are all operated by a shipping company under the Russian Ministry of Defense involved in Russia’s illegal occupation of the Crimean Peninsula since 2014, and have all been subject to US sanctions.

Currently, the contents of the containers cannot be identified from the images alone. However, given the recent evidence of North Korean ballistic missiles being used in war-torn Ukraine, sources suggest a high probability that North Korean weapons were shipped.

During the briefing, spokesperson Wang also commented on a question regarding China lobbying other countries ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights by the UN for the first time in four years. He naturally dismissed the suspicion, stating, “China has always participated in the human rights review under the rules and procedures of the UN Human Rights Council“.

He continued, “The country-specific human rights review is an important platform where countries can equally and honestly exchange views on human rights issues within the framework of the UN, conducting constructive dialogue and cooperation.” He added, “China has always believed that the greatest human right is the people’s happiness and has pursued the development of human rights in line with the historical trend and national conditions.”

In addition, spokesperson Wang clarified that the panda Fubao, who was born in South Korea, will return to China in April. He said, “Fubao has been loved by many people in South Korea since she was born. She has played a positive role in promoting friendly relations between China and South Korea.”