Government Summons Russian Ambassador to Korea: "Must Act Responsibly" (Comprehensive)

Deputy Minister: "Negative Impact on City Korea-Russia Relations for Security"
Ambassador: "Will Accurately Report South Korea's Position to Home Country"

The government summoned the Russian Ambassador to South Korea in connection with North Korea and Russia engaging in cooperation equivalent to a military alliance.

On the 21st at around 2 p.m., Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, called Georgy Zinoviev, the Russian Ambassador to South Korea, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul to convey the government's position on the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' agreement and military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, summoned Georgi Zinoviev, Russian Ambassador to Korea, on the 21st to deliver a warning regarding North Korea-Russia military cooperation.
[Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Vice Minister Kim pointed out that any cooperation that could directly or indirectly assist North Korea's military buildup violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, and strongly urged Russia to immediately halt military cooperation with North Korea and comply with the Security Council resolutions. He also emphasized that North Korea has been developing illegal nuclear and missile programs for decades and has not hesitated to threaten the use of nuclear weapons against South Korea, stating that South Korea will firmly respond together with the international community to any acts that threaten its national security.

Furthermore, he clearly pointed out that Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, supporting North Korea in violation of Security Council resolutions and thereby threatening South Korea's security, inevitably negatively affects South Korea-Russia relations, and demanded that Russia act responsibly.

Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office, after presiding over the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC) the previous day, announced independent sanctions against North Korea and expanded export controls against Russia in a press briefing, and stated that the issue of Russia's support for lethal weapons to Ukraine, considered a red line, would be reconsidered.

Ambassador Zinoviev listened carefully to the South Korean government's position and said he would accurately report it to his home country. The meeting lasted 30 minutes.

When Ambassador Zinoviev was called into the building, he briefly responded in Korean to reporters' questions such as "What do you think about the issue of support for Ukraine?" and "Has Russia decided to strengthen relations with North Korea more than with South Korea?" by saying, "Hello, reporters."