At an emergency U.N. session in which dozens of diplomats condemned Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, North Korea’s ambassador to the global body took the podium on Tuesday and blasted the U.S. for what he called the absurdity of urging Moscow to respect its neighbor’s borders.

Kim Song was one of the only attendees to speak out in defense of Russia’s actions at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, in a conspicuous display of Pyongyang’s abiding support for one of its oldest — and only — allies.