South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned on Wednesday (20) that his country and its allies “will not stand idly by” if North Korea receives Russian help to increase its weapons of mass destruction – just a few days after the leaders of the two nuclear-armed nations held a meeting in Russia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia last week for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Ahead of the meeting, U.S. officials warned that the two leaders could reach a deal that would provide weapons for Moscow to use in the war against Ukraine — and that could see sanctions-hit Pyongyang gain access to vital Russian technology.
See also: What does the meeting between Putin and Kim Jong-Un in Russia mean?
That alarmed South Korea, a U.S. treaty ally.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Yoon declared: “Although military strength may vary between countries, by uniting in unwavering solidarity and firmly adhering to our principles, we can deter any illegal provocation.”
He also called for reform of the United Nations Security Council – of which Russia is a member – saying such a move would “receive broad support” if Moscow provided information to Pyongyang in exchange for weapons.
“It is paradoxical that a permanent member of the UN Security Council, entrusted as the ultimate guardian of world peace, would wage war by invading another sovereign nation and receive arms and ammunition from a regime that flagrantly violates UN Security Council resolutions.” , Yoon said.
He added that if North Korea “acquires the information and technology necessary to improve its capabilities [armas de destruição em massa] In exchange for supporting Russia with conventional weapons, the deal will be a direct provocation, threatening the peace and security of not only Ukraine but also the Republic of Korea [nome oficial da Coreia do Sul]”, added the president.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeated Yoon’s call to reform the UN Security Council during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, and accused Russia of seeking weapons from North Korea.
Kim’s trip to meet Putin was his first visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic.
The two leaders met for five hours, holding what the Kremlin called “very substantive” discussions.
But little is known about what happened behind closed doors; the two sides did not hold press conferences, did not issue statements, and did not publicly announce any agreements.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders did not sign any agreement during the talks.
Still, the talks signaled closer relations between the two countries, which both face international isolation – Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program.
As the war drags on, Moscow is desperate for new supplies of munitions – while North Korea steps up its weapons testing program, eager to advance its nuclear ambitions.
Source: CNN Brasil
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