South Korea's President Warns Kim Jong Un Against Russia-North Korea Arms Deals: 'Will Not Stand Idbly By'

In a stern message, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Russia and North Korea against any potential arms deals, asserting that such action would be regarded as a “direct provocation,” Bloomberg reported.

The warning was delivered during Yoon’s address at the United Nations General Assembly. South Korean officials suspect that Kim Jong Un’s recent trip to Russia may have been aimed at facilitating a transfer of arms to assist Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine.

If North Korea gains the necessary technology and information to enhance its weapons of mass destruction capabilities in return for conventional weapons support to Russia, Yoon warned that it would be seen as a threat to global peace and security.

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Seoul, “together with its allies and partners, will not stand idly by,” Yoon proclaimed.

He also hinted at potential calls to reform the UN Security Council in response to such a provocation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized Russia at the Security Council, advocating for Moscow to lose its veto power as one of the permanent members of the UN’s top decision-making body.

The US has accused North Korea of aiding Russia’s war efforts by supplying arms and ammunition. Despite denials from Russia and North Korea, there are suspicions that North Korean weapons have been used by Russia against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko has called for a change in South Korea’s policy that prohibits lethal aid to countries at war.

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