United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (9/11) warned that military relations between North Korea and Russia were “increasingly growing and dangerous”, and called on China to control Pyongyang.
The US, South Korea and Japan have in recent weeks repeatedly criticized North Korea for helping Russia launch the war in Ukraine. Seoul says Pyongyang gets space technology in return for shipments of arms and ammunition.
Blinken is in Seoul after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Japan, and met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and a number of other top officials on Thursday (9/11).
The US and South Korea “share deep concerns about the DPRK’s growing and dangerous military cooperation with Russia,” Blinken said at a news conference with his South Korean counterpart, using the official name for North Korea.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin shake hands during a joint press conference after their meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, November 9, 2023. (Photo: via AP)
“We see the DPRK providing military equipment for Russia to carry out aggression in Ukraine, but we also see Russia providing technology and support to the DPRK for its own military programs.”
Russia and North Korea are both under international sanctions. Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Their increasing military cooperation has been a source of concern for Ukraine and its allies, especially after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.
South Korea says Pyongyang provided weapons in exchange for Russian space technology so it could put military spy satellites in orbit.
The Kremlin said last month there was “no evidence” North Korea was sending weapons to Russia.
Blinken also called on China, North Korea’s main ally, to play a role in curbing Pyongyang’s weapons programs, including “irresponsible” missile launches.
“China has a unique relationship with North Korea,” he said.
“As a result of that relationship, China has real influence. We hope China can use that influence to play a constructive role in getting North Korea to correct itself from this irresponsible and dangerous behavior.”
In previous meetings, Blinken and South Korean national security adviser Cho Tae-yong criticized North Korea for sending weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. He thanked Cho for South Korea’s “commitment to provide assistance to Ukraine,” according to a US State Department statement.
In his meeting with Yoon, Blinken thanked the South Korean president for his country’s “promise to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.”
Blinken’s stop in Asia follows a tour of the Middle East to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. (ab/uh)