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North Korea Recalls Ambassador to UK Over Sanctions on Children's Camp
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

North Korea Recalls Ambassador to UK Over Sanctions on Children's Camp

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • North Korea has recalled its ambassador to the United Kingdom in protest against sanctions imposed on the Songdowon International Children's Camp.
  • The UK sanctioned the camp for allegedly supporting Russia's program of forcibly transferring and re-educating Ukrainian children.
  • North Korea denies the allegations, calling the sanctions a "provocation" and blaming the UK for consequences.

North Korea has recalled its ambassador from London in a strong protest against sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom on a children's camp. The Songdowon International Children's Camp, located in the coastal city of Wonsan, is accused by the UK of participating in and supporting Russia's program to forcibly transfer and re-educate Ukrainian children.

The Embassy of North Korea in London confirmed to NK News that it had withdrawn Mun Myong-sin and had reduced bilateral relations to the level of charge d'affaires until the sanctions on the Songdowon International Children's Camp are lifted.

— North Korean Embassy in LondonConfirming the ambassador's recall and the downgrade in diplomatic relations.

The North Korean Embassy in London confirmed the withdrawal of Ambassador Mun Myong-sin. Bilateral relations have been downgraded to the level of charge d'affaires until the sanctions are lifted. Pyongyang described the UK's actions as an "extremely provocative act" and "atrocious, unethical, and politically motivated" sanctions.

The legation diplomatic considered that the measure arrives after an 'extremely provocative act' of the British Government, which advocated for imposing 'atrocious, unethical and politically motivated' sanctions.

— North Korean Embassy in LondonDescribing North Korea's view of the UK's sanctions.

The UK announced asset freezes against Songdowon in early May, citing its involvement in undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement asserting that the sanctions aim to tarnish its image and damage relations with Moscow by "unjustifiably linking" the camp to the "unfounded issue of the forced displacement of Ukrainian children."

The sanctions included the freezing of assets against Songdowon for 'participating and providing support to the Russian government's program for the forced deportation and re-education of Ukrainian children, which 'undermines or threatens the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine'.

— United Kingdom GovernmentExplaining the basis for the UK's sanctions against the camp.

The ministry further stated that the British government would be held "fully responsible for all consequences" arising from this "grave hostile act." The UN's International Independent Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine has documented over 1,200 instances of Ukrainian children being transferred by Russia, often without family or Ukrainian authority notification, concluding these actions constitute crimes against humanity. Kyiv has accused Russia of sending Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, and North Korea since the invasion began.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that 'the British Government will be fully responsible for all consequences arising from its grave hostile act' towards North Korea.

— North Korean Ministry of Foreign AffairsStating North Korea's position on accountability for the sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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