Blinken: "North Korea-Russia Cooperation is 'Mutual'... Will Emphasize China's Influence on North Korea" (Update)

US Secretary of State Visits Korea After Two and a Half Years
Mentions North Korea-Russia Close 'Mutual Relationship'
Strengthening ROK-US Cooperation Using China's Leverage

U.S.-South Korea cooperation is expected to be further strengthened to halt military cooperation, including arms transactions, between North Korea and Russia. Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, who visited Korea on the 9th, described North Korea-Russia cooperation as a "bilateral relationship" and stated, "We will continue to work with South Korea and other like-minded countries to detect and respond to Russia's attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea."

At a joint press conference following the U.S.-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul that afternoon, Secretary Blinken said, "We are seeing not only North Korea providing military equipment to Russia but also Russia offering technical support for North Korea's military programs."

This is the first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State to Korea in about two and a half years since the U.S.-South Korea Foreign and Defense Ministers' (2+2) meeting on March 17, 2021. It is also Secretary Blinken's first visit since the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. After meeting President Yoon, Secretary Blinken held a meeting with Foreign Minister Park Jin for over an hour, followed by a joint press conference. The matters discussed at this meeting will soon be addressed at the summit level. From November 11 to 17, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will be held in San Francisco, U.S. At this event, U.S.-China, U.S.-South Korea, and South Korea-China summit meetings will take place, where responses to North Korea-Russia military cooperation are expected to be on the agenda.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, is speaking at the joint press conference of the South Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers held at the annex of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on November 9, 2023. [Joint Coverage]

Regarding North Korea-Russia military cooperation, Secretary Blinken said, "This is a matter of great concern for both our countries," and also raised the role of China. He emphasized that China should exert influence over North Korea amid the unstable security situation in Northeast Asia and the heightened threat from North Korea. Secretary Blinken stressed, "China should play a constructive role by using its influence to make North Korea step back from irresponsible and dangerous actions." Foreign Minister Park also said, "I believe China is not in a favorable position regarding the close ties and military cooperation and arms transactions between North Korea and Russia."

During the meeting, both South Korea and the U.S. reaffirmed their stance to "continue close cooperation to strengthen the U.S. 'extended deterrence' capability" in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile development and provocations. Secretary Blinken stated, "North Korea's missile launches and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction are dangerous. All of this not only violates UN Security Council resolutions but is also dangerous and undermines security." Foreign Minister Park urged North Korea to halt all provocations, including satellite launches, saying, "South Korea and the U.S. will continue to race efforts to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile development."