ROK-UNCMAC Defense Ministers Joint Statement: "Immediate Suspension of North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation"

"Violation of Security Council Resolution and Illegal"
Joint Response to Armed Attacks on the Korean Peninsula

South Korea and the UN Command member countries expressed concern over the military rapprochement between Russia and North Korea and called for the immediate suspension of North Korea-Russia military consultations.

On the 10th, Kim Yong-hyun, Minister of National Defense, Paul LaCamera, Commander of the United Nations Command, Bill Blair, Canadian Minister of National Defense, along with representatives from South Korea and 17 UN Command member countries, held the 2nd Korea-UN Command Defense Ministers' Meeting at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, and issued a joint statement containing these points.

In the statement, they said, "The participants urge the suspension of military cooperation (including arms transactions and technical cooperation) under the 'Treaty on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between North Korea and Russia, as it not only violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions but is also illegal and dangerous."

They also strongly condemned North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs, which violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, emphasizing the importance of halting North Korea's illegal activities and the role of the international community in this regard.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) On the morning of the 14th, the Korea-UN Member States Defense Ministers Meeting is being held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. 2023.11.14 [Photo by Joint Press Corps]

They further stated, "If hostile acts or armed attacks threatening the security of the Republic of Korea resume on the Korean Peninsula in violation of UN principles, we will respond jointly."

The participants agreed to activate joint exercises and training among South Korea, the UN Command, the Combined Forces Command, and UN Command member countries to address current security threats, and to continuously enhance information sharing and solidarity.

They also agreed to discuss necessary measures to strengthen the role of the UN Command as a multilateral cooperation platform for maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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