N. Korea condemns G7 over possible seizure of Russian assets for Ukraine aid

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un shake hands during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, Russia, Sept. 13. AP-Yonhap

North Korea on Friday lambasted the Group of Seven (G7) economic powers as a "club of robbers" over their possible plan to seize Russia's overseas assets and provide financial support to Ukraine.

The criticism came in response to a report by the Financial Times that the G7 have stepped up discussions in recent weeks over spending part of some $300 billion worth of immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Russia promises to respond in kind if EU uses its frozen assets 2023-12-22 10:59  |  World

"The G7, a closed group which is glared upon for deteriorating global peace and obstructing the autonomous development of other countries under the manipulation of the United States has now set on to rob other's asset in broad daylight," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary.

The KCNA said the U.S., which serves as the leader of the G7, has failed to find new measures to support Ukraine and said there are rumors that Ukraine will completely collapse by next summer should support from Western countries cease.

In October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine during his trip to Pyongyang. (Yonhap)