According to the Seoul-based Yonhap agency, Blinken met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during his visit to the capital Seoul.
Speaking at the joint press conference after the meeting, Blinken stated that they found the recently increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia “worrying”.
Blinken stated that Russia wants to give advanced space and satellite technology and expects weapons and equipment support from Pyongyang in return, and said: “Putin is close to reversing the policy that Russia has been implementing for decades and accepting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.” “We have reason to believe it could happen.” he said.
12 THOUSAND NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS WERE SENT TO THE FRONT
Noting that the concern in question is also a major focus for South Korea and Japan, Blinken emphasized the importance of the tripartite security cooperation that Tokyo and Seoul have established with the USA.
Blinken said the Washington-Seoul alliance is the “cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity” in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific regions.
It is estimated that approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to war fronts in Russia to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.
MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG RELATIONS
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed between Moscow and Pyongyang in June 2024 will come into force in December 2024.
It was stated that this agreement envisages mutual military assistance in case of an attack on one of the parties, and will contribute to the construction of a multipolar world order with an indivisible security system in the North East Asia and Asia Pacific regions. (AA)