[Exclusive] Government Statement Condemning Strengthening of Military and Economic Cooperation Between North Korea and Russia

Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office, is delivering a government statement on the conclusion of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" between North Korea and Russia at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The government strongly condemned North Korea and Russia for signing the "Treaty on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" and agreeing to strengthen military and economic cooperation.

Jang Hojin, Director of the National Security Office at the Presidential Office, announced a government statement at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 20th, saying, "The government will resolutely respond together with the international community to any acts that threaten our security," and emphasized, "We will further strengthen the extended deterrence capabilities of the ROK-US alliance and the ROK-US-Japan security cooperation system to neutralize North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles."

The following is the full text of the government statement announced by Director Jang

1. The government expresses grave concern and condemns the fact that North Korea and Russia signed the "Treaty on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" yesterday, agreeing to enhance mutual military and economic cooperation.

2. In particular, it is a fallacy and sophistry of the parties who have a history of initiating aggressive wars, such as the Korean War and the Ukraine War, to promise military cooperation based on the assumption of a preemptive strike by the international community that will never occur.

3. The government clearly emphasizes that any cooperation that directly or indirectly aids North Korea's military buildup is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and subject to international monitoring and sanctions. Especially, Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council that led the adoption of sanctions resolutions against North Korea, violating those resolutions and supporting North Korea, poses a threat to our security and will inevitably have a negative impact on ROK-Russia relations.

4. The government will resolutely respond together with the international community to any acts that threaten our security and will further strengthen the extended deterrence capabilities of the ROK-US alliance and the ROK-US-Japan security cooperation system to neutralize North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.