SOUTH KOREA EXPRESSES ‘DEEP CONCERN’ OVER RUSSIA-NORTH KOREA MEETING

Thu 14 September 2023:

South Korea has expressed “deep concern and regret” over a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

Lim Soo-suk, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said, “We express our deep concern and regret that despite repeated warnings from the international community, North Korea and Russia discussed military cooperation issues, including satellite development, during their summit.

“Any science and technology cooperation that contributes to nuclear weapons and missile development, including satellite systems that involve ballistic missile technologies, runs against UN Security Council resolutions.”

Lim added that Moscow should know there will be “very negative impacts” on its relations with Seoul if it maintains military cooperation with Pyongyang.

Putin: Russia will help North Korea in Space exploration and Rocket construction

Issue of potential cooperation with North Korea in military and technological spheres, Vladimir Putin also said that "they will discuss all issues in no particular hurry" because "they have time". pic.twitter.com/bU0vyXa5cn

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) September 13, 2023

Seoul’s position on Ukraine remains unchanged: Official

South Korean’s spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence has said Seoul’s position on Ukraine has not changed, and it does not supply weapons to Kyiv, the Russian Tass news agency reported.

“To date, there has been no change in the government’s policy, according to which lethal weapons are not supplied to Ukraine,” Chong Ha-kyu said, responding to a question on whether authorities will change their course considering the development with North Korea and Russia.

On Wednesday, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said the meeting between Russia and the DPRK is not directed against third countries and should not cause them concern.

Putin ‘likely concerned’ relations with N Korea will affect sanction dodging: ISW

According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Putin is “likely concerned” that Russia’s relationship with North Korea might affect its sanction dodging schemes.

On Wednesday, Putin met the North Korean leader and said the meeting was “productive” and that he and Kim discussed bilateral issues.

“Putin also stated that Russia continues to comply with restrictions on military-technical cooperation with North Korea but noted that within the ‘framework of the current rules, there are opportunities’,” the ISW wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

“[He] is likely neutrally portraying his meeting with Kim Jong Un in order to balance Russia’s interest in acquiring North Korean artillery munitions with concerns about the risk of triggering secondary international sanctions on Russia due to potential trade with North Korea,” ISW added.

Russian President Vladimir #Putin is likely concerned that #Russia’s growing relationship with North Korea may endanger Russia’s existing sanctions evasion schemes. (1/4) https://t.co/vxHfCbfpo7 https://t.co/WC4qQ1jTLs pic.twitter.com/OIelYdvJlH

— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) September 14, 2023