Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to reporters on Wednesday about his country's "new stage of relations" with North Korea. He did not offer up details on any weapons deals with the North but instead blamed Western leaders for providing arms to Ukraine.
Lavrov accompanied President Vladimir Putin to the Far East for his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He accused Western leaders of ignoring the humanitarian crisis in the North. He said their "flat refusal" to become involved in any political measures "dooms to failure" any further attempts to push a sanctions resolution through the UN Security Council.
Lavrov also defended Russian and Chinese diplomats for blocking a resolution last year against North Korea. He accused Western envoys of carrying out a deception by breaking pledges to provide humanitarian aid in 2006, when they first agreed in the Security Council to impose sanctions.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said the North Koreans are still violating resolutions, including the launch of two missiles on Wednesday. He added that "any form of cooperation" with them must respect UN sanctions.
Guterres is looking ahead to seeing delegates gather at UN headquarters next week for the General Assembly. He said it is a "one-of-a-kind moment" for leaders from every corner of the globe to act for the "common good."