US-ROK-Japan Senior Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Issue... US "Concerned About What Russia Might Give North Korea in Exchange for Weapons"

by Jang Hyowon

Published 17 Oct.2023 20:39(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Senior representatives from South Korea, the United States, and Japan on North Korea's nuclear issue strongly criticized the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and discussed measures to respond to provocations.

Kim Gun, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Peace and Northeast Asia Affairs, Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, and Namazu Hiroyuki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met on the 17th in Jakarta, Indonesia, to hold senior-level talks on the North Korean nuclear issue.

In his opening remarks, Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, stated, "In recent weeks, North Korea has provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers worth of military equipment and supplies," adding, "This influx of weapons is dangerous and destabilizing, prolonging Russia's brutal war and significantly increasing casualties."

He continued, "We are deeply concerned about what Russia is providing in return to North Korea for these weapons and military supplies," and added, "This extensive military cooperation undermines the global non-proliferation regime and threatens stability and security."

Furthermore, Representative Sung Kim expressed concern over credible reports that China has recently repatriated a large number of North Korean residents, including defectors, back to North Korea. He stated, "We urge China to comply with its non-refoulement obligations, provide appropriate protection to defectors, and allow their safe transfer to third countries."

He also emphasized, "The United States does not hold hostile intentions toward North Korea and is committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We are prepared to meet with North Korea to discuss concerns. At the same time, we will continue efforts to respond to North Korea's illicit weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and strengthen our ability to protect regional allies."

Kim Gun, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Peace and Northeast Asia Affairs, also stated in his opening remarks that the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and said, "We will not hesitate to make them pay the price for this."

Director General Kim emphasized, "There is no doubt that North Korea has reached out to Russia seeking an escape from severe internal and external crises. However, there is no chance of success, and it will only make North Korea realize that the international community's will for denuclearization is stronger than North Korea's nuclear ambitions."

Namazu Hiroyuki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also said, "North Korea continues to move in the opposite direction of United Nations Security Council resolutions. We strongly condemn this and urge North Korea to comply with its obligations set by the international community."

Before the meeting, Director General Kim held the first face-to-face senior-level talks on the North Korean nuclear issue between South Korea and Japan since Director-General Namazu's appointment. Both sides shared recent developments in the Korean Peninsula situation, including the strengthening of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and agreed to continue sharing relevant information and close cooperation between the two countries.

They also agreed to cooperate closely to ensure thorough implementation of Security Council sanctions against North Korea and to use the opportunity of both countries serving simultaneously as non-permanent members of the Security Council next year to strengthen efforts to inform the international community about the human rights situation in North Korea.