China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and More Join Forces 'in Defense' of U.N. On 3/12/21 at 2:52 PM EST China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and other nations have united to issue a message in support of the United Nations' founding treaty, seeking to promote multilateralism and diplomacy over the use of force against perceived violations from other U.N. member states. The coalition, comprised of 17 signatories calling themselves "the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations," included Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Venezuela and the State of Palestine, a U.N. non-member observer state.