South Korea and the United States have expressed concerns over the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kim Jong Un‘s North Korea potentially strengthening military ties between the two nations, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
What Happened: South Korea’s vice foreign minister, Kim Hong-kyun, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell held an emergency phone call, warning against any escalation in military cooperation between North Korea and Russia due to Putin’s visit, Reuters reported. They also agreed to respond firmly to any North Korean provocations or actions that could heighten regional tensions.
“While closely monitoring related developments, the two sides agreed to resolutely respond through airtight cooperation to North Korea’s provocations against South Korea and actions that escalate tensions in the region,” the ministry said in a statement.
Putin’s visit to North Korea is expected to take place soon, as reported by a senior official at Seoul’s presidential office. This potential visit has raised concerns about the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, particularly in light of Russia’s recent use of North Korean-made missiles and artillery shells in Ukraine.
North Korea’s vice foreign minister, Kim Son Gyong, criticized Washington in a statement released through state media. He accused the U.S. of orchestrating a significant political provocation designed to smear North Korea’s reputation. This accusation came as a response to the U.N. Security Council meeting held this week to discuss North Korea’s human rights situation.
Why It Matters: Putin’s visit to North Korea, his first since July 2000, has been a topic of concern for the U.S. and its allies. This visit is expected to further strengthen the military ties between North Korea and Russia, which have been a cause for concern due to Russia’s alleged support for North Korea’s military actions.
These concerns come amid escalating tensions in the region, with North Korea recently firing 18 short-range ballistic missiles as a show of force.
This move followed North Korea’s announcement that it would cease sending balloons filled with trash over the border to South Korea, a practice that had been condemned as an “irrational act of provocation” by South Korea.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
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