NEW YORK: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered a stern message during his address at the UN General Assembly, expressing grave concerns over the potential cooperation between Russia and North Korea to bolster the latter’s weapons programme.
Yoon stressed that such collaboration would not only threaten Ukraine’s peace and security but also pose a direct challenge to South Korea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
In a significant context, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent trip to Russia, culminating in agreements to enhance military cooperation, has heightened tensions. Yoon emphasized that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs constitute not only an existential threat to South Korea but also a grave global challenge.
Yoon underscored the paradox of a permanent UN Security Council member, tasked with preserving world peace, engaging in warfare and receiving arms from a regime openly violating Security Council resolutions. He affirmed that South Korea, along with its allies and partners, would not passively witness such provocations.
The situation has raised international concerns, with South Korea and the United States closely monitoring potential arms trade between Russia and North Korea. Efforts are underway to coordinate with international partners for imposing further sanctions on both nations, given the Security Council’s division on the issue. South Korea remains committed to addressing these challenges collaboratively with allies and friends, ensuring a unified response to this evolving situation.
