Foreign Ministers Of G7 Countries District North Korean Arms Transfer To Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Oblast Amur, Far Eastern District, Russia (13/9/2023). (Between/KCNA/tm)

JAKARTA - Foreign ministers of Group of Seven (G7) countries, through a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday (17/2), strongly condemn North Korea's arms transfer to Russia.

They called the action a direct violation of the United Nations Security Council (UN) resolution.

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan as well as the High Representatives of the European Union on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The statement comes amid constant speculation that the summit of September 13, 2023 between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin - on Russia's runway - is likely to produce a gun deal.

Foreign Ministers also expressed deep concern about the potential for nuclear-related technology transfer or ballistic missiles to North Korea, or conventional arms transfers as well as other double-use items from Russia to North Korea.

Pyongyang is suspected of providing artillery and ammunition to Russia for use in the Moscow-launched war in Ukraine, in exchange for the potential transfer of Russian weapons technology.

In January, the White House - the US president's office - said North Korea had given Russia several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used to fight Ukraine on December 30, 2023, as well as January 2 and January 6 this year.