Russian Ambassador Defending 'Buk Nuclear Test'... Foreign Ministry "Deeply Regrets"

"Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation Continues, South Korea-US-Japan Will Also Cooperate"
"Russia Ignores Facts and Shifts Responsibility for North Korea Provocations"

Im Soo-seok, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photo by Yonhap News

The South Korean government expressed "deep regret" over the North Korea-based Russian ambassador's repeated remarks defending North Korea and mentioning the possibility of a seventh nuclear test.

At a regular briefing on the 13th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim said, "We are very regretful that the Russian ambassador to North Korea is ignoring objective facts and shifting responsibility for North Korea's provocations, such as nuclear tests that seriously threaten international peace and stability, onto South Korea and the United States, while justifying North Korea's nuclear development and provocations."

Spokesperson Lim pointed out, "North Korea has continued its nuclear and missile development and provocations according to its own plans for over 30 years," adding, "Now it is even legislating preemptive nuclear strikes and does not hesitate to threaten nuclear attacks against its own people."

He continued, "Our government's firm security posture is a natural measure to protect the lives and safety of our citizens in response to North Korea's threats and provocations," emphasizing, "The more military cooperation between Russia and North Korea continues, the greater the need for security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan will become."

Earlier, on the 10th, Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to North Korea, said in an interview with Russia's Sputnik news agency, "If the United States' provocations continue and they (North Korea) become increasingly dangerous, I do not rule out the possibility that the North Korean leadership will decide to carry out a nuclear test to strengthen the country's defense capabilities."

In particular, he shifted responsibility by saying, "If such a thing happens, the responsibility will lie with the United States and its allies."

Ambassador Matsegora also claimed in a Russian media interview on the 7th that "It would be better for North Korea to decide on a new nuclear test to further enhance its defense capabilities."

The government explained that although the Russian ambassador to North Korea has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of North Korea's nuclear tests, communication channels are being maintained.

A Foreign Ministry official said regarding this issue, "South Korea and Russia are communicating through diplomatic channels." Recently, Andrey Rudenko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, also visited South Korea and met with senior officials including Jang Ho-jin, the Director of the National Security Office.

Meanwhile, Julie Turner, the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights, is scheduled to visit South Korea on the 14th and is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and carry out other engagements.

Spokesperson Lim said, "During Special Envoy Turner's visit, plans are underway for meetings with the Foreign Minister, the head of the Peace Diplomacy Planning Group, and other government officials, as well as meetings and discussions with the International Cooperation Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights."