South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that North Korea's transfer of weapons to Russia helps prolong Russia’s war against Ukraine and called on the international community to unite to counter illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
He made this statement at the ASEAN leaders' summit in the capital of Laos, Vientiane, as reported by Yonhap.
"The illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is prolonging the war in Ukraine and directly challenging U.N. Security Council resolutions," Yoon said.
He also noted that there is growing concern in Seoul and many other countries that Russia might provide North Korea with military technology in response, which could help advance Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs.
"It is crucial to strengthen international solidarity to uphold a rules-based international order," the South Korean president emphasized.
He added that North Korea continuously issues nuclear threats against South Korea, and highlighted the importance of denuclearizing North Korea to achieve a free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
"The international community must clearly demonstrate that it will never tolerate North Korea’s nuclear development and provocations," Yoon added.
During the summit, the South Korean leader also expressed his country’s positions on key global issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine.
Yoon reiterated South Korea's commitment to supporting Ukraine, promising expanded security, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction efforts in close coordination with the international community.
The annual ASEAN summit and meetings with partner countries are attended by leaders and senior diplomats from the 10 member countries, as well as representatives from the United States, China, and Russia. Participants included U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
