North Korea says new sanctions cannot block development, KCNA reports

North Korea said it will not tolerate efforts to curb Pyongyang’s cooperation with other countries and warned that new sanctions will not stop its development or defense of core interests, according to KCNA. In a statement attributed to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, North Korea accused the UN’s Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT)—which includes 11 member states—of fabricating a report claiming normal economic cooperation is illegal. The MSMT’s report, dated September 16, said North Korea continued sending overseas laborers in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, generating an estimated $450 million to $800 million in 2025. It estimated 35,600 to 101,280 workers remain active in at least 17 countries, mainly China and Russia, and urged enforcement through repatriation and refusal of new work permits.