SEOUL.- South Korea on Thursday condemned an agreement reached by Russia and North Korea pledging to defend each other in the event of war, and said it would reconsider its position on limiting its support to Ukraine to non-lethal supplies.
The comments from a top presidential official came hours after North Korean state media published details of the agreement between its leader, Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit Wednesday in Pyongyang.
The pact requires the two countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war, said the Korean Central News Agency, an official North Korean media outlet.
The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement condemning the agreement, calling it a threat to the South’s security and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, in addition to warning that it would have negative consequences. in Seoul’s relations with Moscow.
The presidential official, who spoke on condition of anonymity during a meeting with reporters in line with his office’s rules, said Seoul would respond by reconsidering the question of whether it provides weapons to Ukraine to help the country repel the Russian invasion.
South Korea, which is gaining weight as an arms exporter and has a well-equipped military with American support, has provided humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine and has joined Washington-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not provided weapons to Ukraine directly, due to its traditional policy of not supplying weapons to countries with active conflicts.
Both Kim and Putin described their agreement as a major expansion of their bilateral relations covering security, trade, investment, culture and humanitarian aid. Outside observers said it could mark the closest relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.
KCNA said that according to Article 4 of the agreement, if one of the countries is invaded and pushed into a war situation, the other must deploy “all means at its disposal without delay” to offer “military and other assistance.” ”. However, it also says that such actions must be taken in accordance with the laws of the two countries and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes a member state’s right to self-defense.
“It is absurd that two parties with a history of starting wars of invasion — the Korean War and the war in Ukraine — are now promising mutual military cooperation under the premise of a preemptive strike by the international community that will never occur,” the office said. by Yoon.
“In particular, Russia’s decision to support North Korea and harm our security, despite its position as a permanent member of the Security Council that has supported the sanctions resolution against North Korea, will inevitably have a negative effect on relations.” between Seoul and Moscow, the official added.
Kim and Putin’s summit came as the United States and its allies expressed growing concern about a possible arms deal in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with urgently needed munitions for its war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers. that could increase the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile program.
Source: With information from AP
