SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea, the U.S., and Japan strongly condemn North Korea’s supply of munitions and military equipment to Russia. They argue that these weapons shipments significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine. A joint statement by the top diplomats of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan was released following Russia’s foreign minister’s dismissal of the U.S.’s claim. The joint statement vows to work with the international community to expose Russia’s attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea. They confirm that several weapons deliveries have already been completed, further escalating Russia’s war of aggression.
North Korea and Russia, both currently engaged in separate confrontations with the U.S. and its allies, have recently strengthened their defense and other ties. Speculation about North Korea’s provision of conventional arms to Russia surfaced last month during a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin. The U.S., South Korea, and other countries believe that North Korea is seeking advanced weapons technologies to enhance its nuclear program in exchange for munitions supply.
During the recent visit to Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia’s appreciation for North Korea’s unwavering support in its war on Ukraine. He also proposed security talks with North Korea and China to address increasing U.S.-led regional military threats. After returning to Moscow, Lavrov dismissed the U.S. accusation of the North Korean arms transfers, stating that “the Americans keep accusing everyone.”
Earlier this month, the White House revealed that North Korea had delivered over 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia. Images released by the White House showed the containers being loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being transported to southwestern Russia by train. The joint statement by Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo asserts that the three countries are closely monitoring any materials provided by Russia to North Korea in support of its military objectives.
“We are deeply concerned about the potential transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea,” the statement said, emphasizing that such arms transfers would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, which Russia, as a permanent Security Council member, previously supported.
North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests in the past year, many simulating nuclear attacks on South Korea and the U.S. Experts believe that Russia’s provision of advanced technologies would enable North Korea to develop more reliable nuclear weapons systems. In response, the U.S. and South Korea have been increasing their military drills and restoring some training with Japan. Just this week, the three militaries conducted their first-ever trilateral aerial exercise near the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s navy is currently carrying out a large-scale maritime drill off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula as part of its annual military training. The drill includes live-firing exercises and involves U.S. military helicopters and patrol aircraft. North Korea has not yet responded to the drill, but it has previously criticized U.S.-South Korean exercises as invasion rehearsals and conducted missile tests as a show of opposition.
