Pyongyang blames NATO for Ukraine conflict

The DPRK has condemned NATO's eastward expansion as an irresponsible move that threatened Russia and contributed to the conflict in Ukraine.

The DPRK Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued a statement marking NATO's 75th anniversary, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The statement criticizes NATO for breaking its promise not to expand after the Soviet Union's collapse, stating: “Initially, NATO promised the world that it would not take the slightest step to expand the alliance against Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, NATO completely reneged on its promises to the international community and doubled its size, admitting 16 countries from 1999 to the present.”

The statement continues: “Despite Russia's repeated concerns and warnings, NATO, through an unconscionable act of expanding its power, continued to advance eastward, seriously violating the security interests of a sovereign state. Later, NATO tried to extend its jurisdiction to Ukraine bordering Russia, which was the main factor that led to the current security situation in Europe.”