South Korea expressed concern over North Korea-Russia military cooperation

South Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has expressed concern over the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, saying that it could jeopardize the security of the Korean Peninsula. Cho made the remarks during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the Ukraine issue at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported. “If North Korea acquires advanced military technology or oil shipments, it could jeopardize the security of the Korean Peninsula,” he said.
“Cooperation between the two countries is a clear violation of UNSC resolutions and undermines the arms non-proliferation regime,” he said. The White House has revealed that North Korea provided military equipment, munitions and ballistic missiles to Russia. Some of these were fired on Ukrainian targets on 30 December, 2 January and 6 January. According to US officials, Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia in exchange for weapons, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials and other advanced technologies.
Cho said, “My government is deeply troubled by the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.” “North Korean munitions and missiles have been spotted in Ukraine, which also risks escalating and prolonging the war in Ukraine.” Cho said it is essential for the Security Council to formulate effective strategies to fulfill its fundamental duty of maintaining international peace and security.
“I would like to reaffirm Korea’s commitment as a member of the Security Council to actively contribute to the realization of this goal,” he said. Cho also highlighted that as a country that also experienced war in the 1950s, Korea “knows very well what it means to suffer military aggression”.