Russia-North Korea strengthen defense cooperation after Summit, US-South Korea "sitting on hot coals"

The United States and South Korea have expressed concern over the increasingly strong defense cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, in the context of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 13.

Mỹ lo ngại về hợp tác quốc phòng giữa Triều Tiên và Nga, Hàn Quốc lo ngại về hợp tác quân sự Nga-Triều Tiên

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leads Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his delegation to visit an arms exhibition in Pyongyang on July 26. (Source: KCNA)

On September 14, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Krynica 2023 Forum in Krynica (Poland), South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo affirmed his concerns about the possibility of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, after Mr. Kim Jong Un had a rare summit with President Putin.

At a meeting at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 13, the North Korean leader pledged support for Moscow, while Putin promised to help Pyongyang develop satellites.

“We are witnessing the relationship between Russia and North Korea getting closer and closer. The news about the possibility of military cooperation between the two countries is very worrying,” Prime Minister Han Duck Soo said.

Pyongyang's development of nuclear missiles is a concern not only for East Asia but also for Europe, the South Korean official said, noting that North Korea's ballistic missiles are capable of reaching the entire continent.

Earlier, on September 13, expressing concern about Russia-North Korea defense cooperation, US National Security Council (NSC) spokesman John Kirby said that Washington will deploy appropriate measures if necessary to counter any potential arms deal between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Russia's support for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be a "deep concern" for the United States, Kirby said.

At a White House press briefing during the Russia-North Korea summit, spokesman Kirby asserted: “Similar to the concerns we have expressed about the growing defense relationship between Russia and Iran, we are clearly concerned about any growing defense relationship between Russia and North Korea.”

Moscow and Pyongyang have yet to release details of the meeting between the two leaders, but have acknowledged that Russia will help North Korea develop satellites.

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