The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated on Wednesday that any cooperation with North Korea on military affairs that may harm global peace must stop.
At the summit of Southeast Asian countries from the ASEAN, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, Yoon warned of ending cooperation if North Korea threatened international peace.
The presidential administration did not provide detailed comments. Yoon’s statement was made against the background of active negotiations between North Korea and Russia on weapons, as well as in connection with Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia in order to meet with Vladimir Putin.
Attempt at military cooperation with North Korea that harms international peace must immediately halt.
However, both countries deny that they were negotiating on weapons. The New York Times reported that Kim’s visit is partly related to the need to discuss the supply of weapons for the war in Ukraine.
Before the North Korean leader’s trip to Vladivostok, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to hold joint military exercises.
Yoon also stated at a meeting with ASEAN leaders attended by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang that South Korea aims to establish cooperation to resume the trilateral summit.
The annual three-way summit has not been held since 2019 due to tensions caused by Japan’s wartime past, Reuters said.
