South Korea, Japan and the United States “strongly condemn” North Korea’s arms supply to Moscow, the allies said in a joint statement on Thursday, saying Pyongyang was doing “a lot” of that. deliveries.
Russia and North Korea, historical allies, have a series of world sanctions: Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons tests.
The leaders of the two countries, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, held a high-profile summit in Russia’s far east in September, stoking Western fears that Pyongyang will supply Moscow with weapons for its war on Ukraine.
Washington and its main security allies in East Asia, Seoul and Tokyo, said they “strongly condemn the supply of military equipment and ammunition by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the Russian Federation for use against the government and the people of Ukraine” .
“Those arms deliveries, many of which we now confirm have been completed, will greatly increase the human cost of Russia’s war of aggression.”
During his visit to Russia last September, Kim stated that bilateral relations with Moscow are the “number one priority” of his country.
Washington and experts say Pyongyang is asking for military aid in return, such as satellite technology and modernization of Soviet-era military equipment.
Nuclear-armed North Korea has failed twice this year in its attempt to launch a military spy satellite into orbit.
Thursday’s joint statement also claimed that Pyongyang “seeks military assistance to develop its own military capabilities” in exchange for “its support for Russia.”
“We emphasize that the transfer of arms to or from the DPRK … would violate several UN Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.
“Russia itself voted in favor of the UN Security Council resolutions with these restrictions,” he said, adding that the allies were “deeply concerned” about “the potential possibility of any transfer of technology with relating to nuclear or ballistic missiles.” ” in the north.
In August, leaders from Tokyo, Seoul and Washington met at a summit at Camp David and agreed on a multi-year plan for regular joint exercises and real-time data sharing with North Korea.
Pyongyang’s leader Kim has described the growing defense alliance as “the worst real threat” his isolated country faces.
