Russian Official Slams Allegations of Passing Rocket Technology to N Korea

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin slammed the allegations that Russia had passed on technologies of rocket production to North Korea, as the latter carried out a rocket launch.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, North Korea announced a successful launch of a satellite atop a long-range rocket. The South Korean media later reported that some parts of the rocket could have come from Russia.

In an interview with the Kommersant newspaper on Monday, Rogozin called the allegations of Moscow passing technology onto Pyongyang "complete nonsense and drivel, which is not even half-percent true."

"We accurately monitor the adherence to non-proliferation of missile technology, an export committee led by me has never given such permits for North Korea," Rogozin stressed.

Following the launch, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated Pyongyang ignored calls of the international community, showing a defiant disregard for international law by firing a long-range rocket missile.

Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community.

North Korea previously reported a successful satellite launch in 2012, in violation of the UN Security Council resolution.