PAJU, South Korea: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said that a security agreement inked by Russia and North Korea was destabilizing the region, saying that North Korea was giving arms to Russia in “flagrant violation” of UNSC resolutions.
Wong was speaking to media persons in the city of Paju following a trip to the nearby Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides, which remain technically at conflict.
She said, “We see Moscow behaving in means which are not conducive to peace and stability but are escalatory, referring to a security agreement inked between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June.
Under the agreement, Russia and North Korea agreed to provide immediate military help if either faces aggression.
The US and its allies are alarmed by the deepening defense cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and have alleged both countries of breaching global laws by trading in arms for Russia to use against Kyiv. However, Moscow and Pyongyang have rejected conducting any arms transactions.
Australian Foreign Minister will also meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to discuss matters including bilateral cooperation for peace in the region. As per media reports, the two sides will also discuss North Korea situation during the meeting.
She arrived in South Korea following attending summits in Laos at a gathering of the ASEAN alliance and joining a meeting of Quad FMs in Tokyo on Monday with counterparts from Japan, the US and India.
