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Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Russia warns U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Wonsan, North Korea, on July 12. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP) SEOUL--Russia's foreign minister warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke Saturday at North Korea's eastern Wonsan city, where he met the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and conveyed greetings from President Vladimir Putin. Kim during the meeting reaffirmed his government's commitment to 'unconditionally support and encourage all measures' taken by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. He said Pyongyang and Moscow share identical views on 'all strategic issues in conformity with the level of alliance,' according to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Lavrov called for the two countries to further strengthen their 'strategic and tactical cooperation and intensify concerted action' in international affairs, KCNA reported. 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 U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer sensitive technologies to North Korea 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 U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called 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 U.S., South Korea and Japan have expanded or restored their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. The three countries held a joint air drill Friday involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities threatening regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals and has long argued it is forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons, Lavrov said. '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 North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort in Wonsan city, the meeting venue, that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said, 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,' according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism to improve his country's troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex aren't clear as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon.
South China Morning Post
26-01-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Russia's ‘Afghan Quad' overtures to India hit a China, Pakistan stumbling block
This Week in Asia Politics Published: 8:00am, 27 Jan 2025 Updated: 8:01am, 27 Jan 2025 India is expected to reject Russia 's offer to join the 'Afghan Quad', a coalition that also includes Pakistan and China – in a decision that reflects its unwillingness to engage with rivals on Kabul's future. The four-nation bloc – Iran is the fourth member – was formed with the stated aim of stabilising Afghanistan , a goal aligned with its members' shared regional interests. Yet for India, joining a coalition that includes its long-standing adversary, Pakistan, would clash with its strategic calculus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope earlier this month that India would join the group, calling it 'the right thing to do in Afghanistan'. He also urged India and Pakistan to address each other's concerns. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said India joining the group would be 'the right thing to do in Afghanistan'. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/AP However, Pakistan's involvement is 'an automatic red flag' for India, according to Kabir Taneja, deputy director and fellow at the Observer Research Foundation's Strategic Studies Programme in New Delhi, dismissed the idea of Indian participation, saying Pakistan's involvement was 'an automatic red flag'. He noted Islamabad's historical support for the Taliban, which has long targeted both Indian and US interests in Afghanistan. 'Islamabad would need to do institutional house cleaning first before such a Quad can be effective beyond just a conference,' Taneja said. A Quad divided The 'Afghan Quad' most recently convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, holding its third meeting to discuss Afghanistan.
