US State Department on Putin's North Korea Visit: "Doing Our Best to Prevent North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation"

NATO "Concerns Over Russia's Support for North Korea"

Amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea for the first time in 24 years, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on the 17th (local time) that he would do his utmost to prevent military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

After meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington D.C. on the same day, Blinken stated at a press conference, "We will continue to do everything we can to block the support that Iran and North Korea provide to Russia."

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State [Photo by AP News]

Blinken said, "We have witnessed Russia desperately trying to develop and strengthen relationships with countries that can provide what it needs to continue its war of aggression," adding, "North Korea is supplying Russia with a significant amount of ammunition and weapons that Russia can use in Ukraine."

He also addressed China, saying, "If you are interested in ending the war, you must stop supporting Russia's 'war machine.'"

Secretary General Stoltenberg evaluated Putin's visit to North Korea by saying, "It confirms that Russia maintains very close ties with authoritarian countries such as North Korea, China, and Iran." He added, "Security is not limited to the region; it is global. What happens in Europe is important to Asia, and what happens in Asia is important to us."

He reiterated that the security situations of countries are closely interconnected, stating, "We are also concerned about the possibility that Russia may provide potential support to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and we will examine how much military support Russia receives from North Korea and Iran, as well as how much China supports Russia's war economy."

Furthermore, Secretary General Stoltenberg announced that leaders from South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have been invited to the NATO summit to be held in Washington next month, and that strengthening security cooperation among countries will be on the agenda.