Russia warns against security alliance targeting NKorea

Yahoo

a day ago

Russia's foreign minister has warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on solidifying their booming military and other co-operation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at North Korea's eastern Wonsan city on Saturday, where he met the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, and conveyed greetings from President Vladimir Putin.
Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance.
That has raised concerns among South Korea, the US and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs.
Speaking with reporters after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, Lavrov accused the US, South Korea and Japan of "military buildups" around North Korea.
"We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia," he said, according to Russia's state Tass news agency.
The US, South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program.
On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving US nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security.
North Korea views major US-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from US military threats.
Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons.
"The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development," Lavrov said, according to Tass.
During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea "unconditionally" supports Russia's fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region.