US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that UN member states enforcing the Korean War truce were concerned that China and Russia were helping North Korea build up its military capabilities, allowing Pyongyang to circumvent UN sanctions.
Austin was speaking at a meeting in South Korea with defence ministers and representatives of the 17 countries that make up the UN Command (UNC), the body overseeing the truce. Austin said, referring to the People’s Republic of China and North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:
“We are deeply concerned that the PRC and Russia are helping the DPRK expand its capabilities by enabling it to evade sanctions from the UN Security council. We’re also troubled by the recent growth in military co-operation between Russia and the DPRK.”
Washington accuses North Korea of supplying military equipment to Russia and Moscow of providing technical military support to the North. North Korea and Russia have denied any arms deals, although their leaders promised closer military co-operation at a meeting in September in Russia’s Far East. China, North Korea’s closest ally, has said it is honouring international commitments.
On Tuesday, UNK will reaffirm its pledge to respond to any North Korean aggression and adopt a joint statement on a unified response in the event of a “contingency situation” on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s defence ministry said. Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said Pyongyang had been warned against aggressive actions, noting that unlike in 1950 when the Korean War began, North Korea is now a member of the United Nations. Shin told the meeting:
“If North Korea ever invades the South again, it will be self-contradictory, where a UN member state would be attacking the UN Command. If the countries that backed North Korea during the Korean War ever try to help again, then those countries will also receive grave punishment from the international community along with North Korea.”
The Soviet Union and China have supported North Korea in fighting against UN member states led by the United States. China and North Korea are parties to the UNK armistice.
17 UNK member countries, including the US, UK, Australia and Turkey, sent troops or provided medical assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War. Established in 1950 UNK was mandated to restore peace and enforce the armistice, while acting as a channel of communication with North Korea. The commander of US military forces stationed in South Korea heads it.
On Monday, North Korea called the UNC a “US tool for confrontation” that has nothing in common with the UN. It also called the UNC an “illegal military organisation” that must be dissolved if it is to prevent the outbreak of a new war on the Korean Peninsula.
On Monday, Shin and Austin agreed to revise a bilateral security agreement aimed at curbing North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats. The defence chiefs also agreed to step up joint exercises and cooperation with Japan to deter and better prepare for any possible attack from North Korea.
