In a recent interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted the significant changes in the global political environment since the United Nations imposed sanctions on North Korea.
According to Reuters, Lavrov accused Western countries of failing to fulfill their promises regarding humanitarian aid to North Korea.
Lavrov's comments came during a summit in Russia's far east, where President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The sanctions against North Korea, supported by Russia, have been in place since 2006 due to the country's prohibited nuclear and missile activities.
Lavrov explained that the original sanctions were enacted under different geopolitical circumstances. He criticized the West for not keeping its word on humanitarian aid, stating,
"That was another lie. We, the Chinese and the North Koreans were deceived."
The Russian Foreign Minister also discussed the recent blockage of a U.S.-drafted sanctions resolution against North Korea by Russia and China.
He attributed this to the West's broken promises at the time the original sanctions were imposed.
In a separate conversation, Lavrov was questioned about the possibility of Russia supplying arms to North Korea.
While he did not directly respond, he criticized the West for supplying Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, which he said violated contractual obligations.
Lavrov's remarks come at a time when Russia's own compliance with international sanctions is under scrutiny. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia's commitments as a U.N. Security Council member would not hinder its relationship with North Korea.
