US, Japan, S Korea Condemn N Korea-Russia Arms Transfers
The United States, Japan, and South Korea have strongly condemned North Korea’s supply of military equipment and munitions to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
“Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war of aggression. We will continue to work together with the international community to expose Russia’s attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK”, the three allied nations said in a joint statement.
The foreign ministers of the three nations alleged that in return for its support to Russia, North Korea is seeking military assistance to advance its own military capabilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said they are monitoring closely for any materials that Russia provides to the North in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives. They emphasized that arms transfers to or from North Korea as well as the transfer to it certain items and technical cooperation related to its weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile, or conventional weapons programs, would violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Russia itself voted for the UN Security Council resolutions that contain these restrictions.
The leaders also expressed deep concern over the potential for any transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea. “Such transfers would jeopardize the ongoing efforts of the international community to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of actors who are working to destabilize regional security, threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as across the globe, and necessitate renewed efforts to respond appropriately across all elements of our national power to the advancing DPRK WMD threat”.
The United States, Japan, and South Korea urged North Korea and Russia to abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions and immediately cease all activities that violate them.
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