On Tuesday, the UN Command (UNC) called on Russia and North Korea to immediately cease military cooperation and expressed serious concern over arms trading and other activities. This was reported by Yonhap.
"The defense ministers and representatives expressed serious concern over military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, highlighted by the signing of the 'Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' including weapons transactions and technological cooperation. They urged Russia and the DPRK to immediately cease all such activities," reads a joint statement issued during a meeting of defense ministers and members of multinational forces overseeing the armistice of the Korean War of 1950-53.
South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia to support the war against Ukraine and of violating UN Security Council resolutions related to North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.
"North Korea's illegal arms support has led to cruel and fatal results in Ukraine," Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said at the meeting. "Countries that share universal values of freedom and democracy must jointly respond by establishing strong solidarity," said South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hen at the meeting.
The joint statement also strongly condemned North Korea's illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
UNC member countries stated that they would remain united in the event of renewed military actions or armed attacks on South Korea and agreed to increase information exchange and strengthen joint training.
The UNC, which includes countries that provided troops or medical aid to South Korea during the Korean War, was established in July 1950 under a UN mandate to support the South against aggression from North Korea. The current 18 members of UNC also include Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, and France.
