Blinken in Seoul: The U.S. is Concerned About Increasing Military Cooperation Between Russia and North Korea

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin in Seoul, expressed that the United States shares South Korea's concerns regarding the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The U.S. and South Korean foreign ministers announced in a joint press conference that they discussed enhancing cooperation with Japan and a strategy of extended deterrence against North Korean threats, which includes the use of U.S. military assets, including nuclear forces, to protect against attacks. Blinken stated, 'We have real concerns about any support for North Korea's ballistic missile programs, its nuclear technology, and its capacity to launch [missiles] into space.' He added that the U.S. is seeking to 'identify, expose, and if necessary counter these efforts.' According to Blinken, North Korea is supplying military equipment to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, and in return, Moscow is aiding Pyongyang's military advancements with technical support. The U.S. Secretary emphasized, 'This is a real concern for the security of the Korean Peninsula, a real concern for global non-proliferation regimes... a real concern regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine and a real concern related to violations of several United Nations Security Council resolutions.' Blinken noted that U.S. cooperation with Japan and South Korea regarding North Korea, which he said is developing its nuclear weapons and missiles in violation of Security Council resolutions, is expanding. In the press conference, South Korea's foreign minister also stated that China should play a constructive role regarding tensions arising from the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Park Jin mentioned that the growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang are not in Beijing's interest. The South Korean foreign minister also said that his country is closely monitoring any connections between the weapons used by Hamas, its policies and strategies, and the activities of this group with North Korea, and if such connections are proven, they should be condemned accordingly. Blinken's two-day visit to South Korea is his first to the country in two and a half years. Before South Korea, he visited Japan and India. Along with other G7 foreign ministers, Blinken on Wednesday expressed their support for humanitarian pauses in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery, civilian displacement, and hostage release; however, the members did not call for a ceasefire. Additionally, the G7 called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to refrain from supporting Hamas. Furthermore, the G7 foreign ministers condemned the transfer of military weapons from North Korea to Russia as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. High-level U.S. officials are visiting India ahead of regional talks. Netanyahu stated that Israel is prepared for 'tactical pauses' in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery and the release of hostages. The two-day G7 foreign ministers' meeting to discuss the Israel-Hamas war has commenced. Blinken's second Middle Eastern tour has concluded, and he is heading to Japan for the G7 summit. Zelensky stated that Iran, Russia, and North Korea are 'adding fuel to the fire of the war' between Israel and the Palestinians. The U.S., South Korea, and Japan condemned North Korea's shipment of munitions to Russia. The U.S. condemned the shipment of 'military cargo from North Korea to Russia.' A U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier docked in South Korea as a show of force.