SEOUL: North Korea’s provision of military weapons has significantly strengthened Russia’s position in Ukraine by enabling Moscow to sustain its domestic stockpiles, General Carsten Breuer, Germany’s top military official said during a visit to South Korea on Monday.
In a press conference held in Seoul, General Breuer stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s outreach to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for weaponry indicates the substantial value of these arms to Russia’s war efforts.
“It’s about increasing the production of weapons for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. It also strengthens Russia by allowing them to maintain their own arsenals,” Breuer said.
The general’s remarks come amid reports of North Korean military support to Russia. Analysts and Ukrainian sources have said that Kim Jong Un’s regime has been supplying missiles and ammunition to Russia, which in turn has been used in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Koepke, North Korea has sent at least 16,500 containers of ammunition and related materials to Russia since last September. Out of these, more than 65 missiles have been reportedly used against Ukrainian targets.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang officially deny any direct arms transfers that would contravene UN sanctions. Nevertheless, the ongoing cooperation has been a subject of concern for the international community.
During his visit, General Breuer also addressed questions about South Korea’s role in supporting Ukraine. He expressed support for Ukraine’s position, emphasizing that air defense systems, infantry fighting vehicles, and other military assets would significantly enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
However, South Korea has so far limited its assistance to non-lethal equipment and humanitarian aid. The South Korean government has indicated that it will not supply weapons unless there is a substantial escalation in Russian-North Korean military cooperation, the specifics of which remain undefined.
German Ambassador to South Korea, Georg Schmidt, highlighted that South Korea has made it clear to North Korea that its military cooperation with Russia affects regional security, underscoring the broader implications of such alliances.
“We made it clear to North Korea that their military cooperation with Russia has a direct impact on our security,” Georg Schmidt said.
General Breuer also visited two German warships docked in South Korea. The ships are scheduled to transit the South China Sea and make a stop in Manila. However, Breuer declined to comment on whether the ships would pass through the Taiwan Strait, a potential development that would mark the first German naval transit through this strategic waterway in over 20 years.
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which is governed democratically, and claims control over the nearly 180-kilometer strip of water.
