US warn against North Korea-Russia military ties ahead of Putin visit

By , June 14, 2024

Senior officials of South Korea and the United States held an emergency phone call over a possible impending visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Friday, June 14, 2024.

South Korea’s vice foreign minister, Kim Jong-un, in a phone call with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, said that Putin’s visit should not result in deeper military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the ministry said.

Echoing Kim’s concerns, Campbell pledged continued cooperation to tackle potential regional instability and challenges caused by the trip.

“While closely monitoring related developments, the two sides agreed to resolutely respond through airtight cooperation to North Korea’s provocations against South Korea and actions that escalate tensions in the region,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address to the nation following a shooting attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue. PHOTO/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address to the nation following a shooting attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue. PHOTO/Reuters

Putin’s visit

On Wednesday, a senior official at Seoul’s presidential office said Putin was expected to visit North Korea “in the coming days”. Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper on Monday, June 10, 2024, reported Putin would visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks.

Civilian aircraft have been cleared from Pyongyang’s airport and there are signs of preparations for a possible parade in the capital’s Kim Il Sung Square, NK PRO, a Seoul-based website, reported this week, citing commercial satellite imagery.

When Sergei Shoigu, then Russia’s defence minister, visited Pyongyang last year to jumpstart the two countries’ warming ties, he accompanied Kim to a parade and saluted as North Korea’s banned nuclear-tipped missiles rolled by.

Speaking at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington on Wednesday, Campbell said the United States has a very good understanding of what North Korea has provided Russia, which he said has had “a substantial impact on the battlefield”.

Less clear, he said, is what Russia has provided North Korea.

“Hard currency? Is it energy? Is it capabilities that allow them to advance their nuclear or missile products? We don’t know. But we’re concerned by that and watching carefully,” he said.

For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.

Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital 

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p2z

Author Profile

Related article

CS Wahome pays touching tribute to renowned family lawyer Judy Thongori following her death in India

Read more

ODM warns of education crisis if governors are barred from issuing bursaries

Read more

‘If AG cannot get his phone calls answered who can?’ – Kalonzo wades into Muturi’s son abduction saga

Read more