Call The Russian Ambassador, South Korea Asks For Military Cooperation With North Korea To Be Stopped

Russian President Vladmir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un/TASS

JAKARTA - South Korea urged Russia to immediately stop military cooperation with North Korea, following the latest agreement signed by Moscow and Pyongyang to provide mutual military assistance if one of the countries is attacked.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-Kyun emphasized South Korea's attitude towards the Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev in Seoul, Friday, June 21.

Kim stressed Russia must act responsibly and said that South Korea, together with the international community, would dealt with firmly any action that threatens security.

"Because the situation is at a point where North Korea will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons," the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, citing Kim's statement.

Kim also said Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, violated UN DK resolutions.

By directly or indirectly supporting North Korea through the increase in Pyongyang's weapons, said Kim, it will definitely have a negative impact on Russia's bilateral relations with South Korea.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador to protest over an agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a summit in Pyongyang, Wednesday (19/6).

The agreement regulates military aid and other aid from one party to another at all costs and without delay, if any of the countries are attacked or in a state of war.

Article 4 of the agreement is deemed to guarantee military intervention in the event of an attack on one of the countries, a provision restoring the Cold War-era alliance, 28 years after the joint defense agreement between Russia and North Korea was canceled in 1996.

Responding to a request by the South Korean government, Zinoviev said any attempt to "threaten and extort" Russia was unacceptable.

He also said through an upload on the Russian Embassy's X account in Seoul that Russia's cooperation with North Korea was not aimed at a third country.

Zinoviev said the cooperation contributed to strengthening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and that his country adhered to international legal principles and norms.

He also stressed that Russia remains committed to building a framework for "long-term peace and stability in the region based on the principle of security that cannot be shared."

Arms supplies to Ukraine

Separately, South Korea's main security adviser Chang Ho-jin said Seoul would reconsider its policies regarding arms supply to Ukraine.

South Korea has so far maintained its policy of only providing assistance that is not lethal to Kiev.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on state visit to Vietnam, warned of a "very big mistake" if South Korea provided a lethal weapon to Ukraine.