The United States and Russia clashed over North Korea’s nuclear program at a major international forum this week, with Moscow defending its ally’s nuclear arsenal and demanding the U.N. watchdog stop releasing “speculative” reports on its enrichment activities.

The head of the U.S. mission in Vienna condemned the DPRK’s nuclear program as unlawful and called for continued monitoring on Wednesday, speaking in support of an agenda item on applying safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting.

Delivering a statement on behalf of the U.S., South Korea and Japan, chargé d’affaires Howard Solomon reaffirmed the three