Russia requests North Korean labourers be sent to Donbas in exchange for wheat and machinery
Providing technology to Pyongyang would violate UN sanctions that Moscow has supported in the past
THE TELEGRAPH Julian Ryall 21 July 2022
Russia expects North Korean labourers to be involved in rebuilding two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, with Pyongyang likely to be paid in much-needed industrial equipment and wheat from areas of Ukraine that are now under the control of the Russian military.
Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to North Korea, made the claim in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, the Moscow Times reported.
Assisting North Korea in obtaining equipment, technology or currency would be a breach of United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang developing more nuclear weapons or advanced missiles. As a member of the UN Security Council, Russia has in the past supported sanctions on North Korea but is now seeking new allies as it faces its own trade and other embargoes.
“Highly qualified, hard-working and ready to work in the most difficult conditions, Korean builders will be an asset in the serious task of restoring social, infrastructural and industrial facilities destroyed by the retreating ‘Ukronazis'”, Mr Matsegora told the pro-Kremlin Izvestia, repeating the claim that the Ukrainian government is led by Nazis.
North Korea is the third nation to officially recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics, after Russia and Syria.
Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, said the recognition of Pyongyang was “a triumph of diplomacy” and said he looked forward to “active and fruitful cooperation” with North Korea.
Mr Matsegora told Izvestia there are “wide prospects for bilateral cooperation” between the two breakaway republics and their new Asian ally, with Pyongyang particularly keen to obtain replacements for its Soviet-era manufacturing equipment. Much of that equipment was originally made in the industrial region of eastern Ukraine that is presently the focus of much of the fighting.
“Our Korean partners are very interested in spare parts and units manufactured there, in updating their production base”, the ambassador said.
The trade relationship will also see coking coal and wheat shipped to North Korea, which is suffering severe food shortages, in exchange for magnesite clinker.
North Korea last week recognised the independence of the two districts in eastern Ukraine, accusing the government in Kyiv of supporting Washington’s “hostile” stance towards Pyongyang.
The Ukrainian government responded by severing diplomatic ties and accused the North of undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister, said the fact that Moscow was having to appeal to Pyongyang for diplomatic support demonstrated that Russia had “no more allies in the world, except countries that depend on it financially and politically”.
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‘Fruitful cooperation!’ Russia calls for North Korean labourers for help in the Donbas
RUSSIA called on North Korea to supply labourers in the Donbas in exchange for wheat and machinery, a report has claimed.
JACK WALTERS EXPRESS UK Jul 22, 2022
The Kremlin’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matesegora, suggested that North Korean labourers could be used to rebuild the two separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine. He also claimed Pyongyang would likely receive much-needed industrial equipment and wheat from Ukraine as payment.
However, providing such technology to Pyongyang would violate United Nations sanctions which Moscow has previously supported.
According to the Telegraph, Mr Matsegora said: “Highly qualified, hard-working and ready to work in the most difficult conditions, Korean builders will be an asset in the serious task of restoring social, infrastructural and industrial facilities destroyed by the retreating ‘Ukronazis’.”
Despite previous sanctions, North Korea is just the third country to officially recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics, after Russia and Syria.
Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, welcomed the recognition made by Pyongyang.
‘Fruitful cooperation!’ Russia calls for North Korean labourers for help in the Donbas.
Pyongyang would likely receive much-needed industrial equipment and wheat from Ukraine as payment.
He said it was “a triumph of diplomacy” and revealed he looks forward to “active and fruitful cooperation” with North Korea. Mr Matsegora also suggested diplomatic ties could be strengthened.
According to the Telegraph, he told Izvestia there are “wide prospects for bilateral cooperation” between the two breakaway republics and their new Asian ally, with Pyongyang particularly keen to obtain replacements for its Soviet-era manufacturing equipment. Much of that equipment was originally made in the industrial region of Eastern Ukraine. The news comes after it was revealed forces from the Kremlin are continuing to target critical national infrastructure.
An intelligence update from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) claimed: “Russian and separatist forces continue to attempt small scale assaults along the Donbas front line.
“Russian forces are likely closing in on Ukraine’s second biggest power plant at Vuhlehirska, 50km north-east of Donetsk.
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The MoD added: “However, it is probably also attempting to break through at Vuhlehirska, as part of its efforts to regain momentum on the southern pincer of its advance towards the key cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.”
