A: Hey buddy, did you catch the latest news?
B: Nah, what's up?

A: Well, North Korea ain't too happy about a new team monitoring UN sanctions. They think they're causing political drama with their report!

B: Oh, really? Who's this team made of?

A: It's an 11-nation squad, including Japan, the U.S., and South Korea. Last Thursday, they released their first report. But remember that UN panel that was checking sanctions against North Korea last year? They stopped working because Russia blocked them using a veto.

B: Oh, I see. And what's North Korea mad about in this new report?

A: Well, it seems they think the report is trying to mess with their relationship with Russia. There was talk of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, but North Korea says it's just a part of a strategic partnership. They claim it includes mutual assistance if either country gets attacked.

B: That doesn't sound good for North Korea... What else did the report say?

A: The report also accused North Korea of illegally transferring ballistic missiles to Russia last year, violating UN resolutions. And it suggested that Russia gave North Korea air defense systems and advanced electronic warfare equipment.

B: Wow, that's a lot going on there!

A: Yeah, definitely. North Korea said they have the right to take strong measures to protect their interests and sovereignty. It sounds like this situation could get even more complicated...
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North Korea has harshly criticized an 11-nation team monitoring UN sanctions on Pyongyang, accusing the group of committing "political provocation" with a report it says obstruct the country's ties with Russia.



Last Thursday, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team released its report for the first time.



The team was created after a UN Security Council panel of experts tasked with monitoring the implementation of sanctions against the North ceased its activities last year. Russia used its veto to block the panel's activities.



Japan, the United States and South Korea are among the countries that formed the 11-nation team.



The North Korean foreign ministry on Monday issued a statement from the chief of its External Policy Office saying the report is trying to obstruct the cooperative relations between North Korea and Russia.



The statement commented on military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow described in the report. It said it is a legitimate exercise of a sovereign right based on a comprehensive strategic partnership, which requires mutual military assistance in the case of an armed attack against either country.



The statement stressed that North Korea has the right to take strong countermeasures to defend its interests from any encroachment on its sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.



The monitoring team reported that North Korea unlawfully transferred ballistic missiles to Russia last year in violation of UN resolutions.



The report says Russia is believed to have provided the North with air defense systems and advanced electronic warfare systems, including jamming equipment.