flood: North Korea said it agreed to strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia to establish a “new multipolar international order,” as the two countries work to build a united front in the face of separate and rising tensions with the United States. States.
Describing North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui's meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow last week, the North Korean Foreign Ministry said Putin also confirmed his willingness to visit Pyongyang, and said it could come at an “early date.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in Russia last September.credit: AP
North Korea is actively working to strengthen its relations with Russia, which was highlighted by the visit made by leader Kim Jong Un in September to Russia to hold a summit with Putin. Kim is trying to emerge from his diplomatic isolation and strengthen his position as he navigates a worsening nuclear confrontation with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.
In a separate statement, North Korea's Foreign Ministry, also on Sunday, condemned the UN Security Council for calling an emergency meeting over the country's latest ballistic test, which state media described as a new solid-fueled medium-range missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead. . The ministry said that the January 14 test firing was among the country's usual activities to improve its defense capabilities and that it did not pose a threat to its neighbors.
South Korea urged the Security Council last week to “break the silence” on North Korea's missile tests and escalating threats. Russia and China, both permanent members of the council, have blocked US-led efforts to increase sanctions on North Korea over its recent nuclear tests, highlighting deep division over Russia's war on Ukraine.
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The alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow has raised international concerns over alleged arms cooperation, with North Korea supplying Russia with munitions to help prolong the fighting in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for much-needed economic and military aid to help develop Kim's forces. Both Pyongyang and Russia denied accusations from Washington and Seoul regarding the transfer of North Korean weapons to Russia.
In comments published by state media, North Korea's Foreign Ministry said that Choe and Russian officials expressed in their meetings a “strong will to further strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation in defending the core interests of the two countries and establishing a new multipolar international order.” to request”.
The North Korean ministry said that Russia expressed its “deep thanks” to North Korea for its “full support” in its war on Ukraine. She added that Choe and Russian officials expressed “grave concern” about the United States' expanded military cooperation with its Asian allies, which they blame for exacerbating tensions in the region and threatening North Korea's sovereignty and security interests.
