Yoon: "North Korea is an international nuisance... Russia must carefully judge whether South or North Korea is more important"

President Yoon's Interview with Foreign Media Ahead of NATO Visit
On North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation: "A Decisive Threat to Security"
Criticism of North Korea as "Clearly a Nuisance to the International Community"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is heading to the reception room after the credential presentation ceremony for new heads of overseas diplomatic missions held at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 8th, "I hope Russia ultimately makes a clear judgment on which side is more important and necessary to it, South Korea or North Korea."

In an interview with major foreign media released that day, President Yoon said, "The future of Korea-Russia relations depends entirely on Russia's attitude."

This interview took place ahead of the NATO summit held in Washington DC, USA. President Yoon departed that day, planning to visit the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on the 9th, attend the Korea-Japan-Australia-New Zealand summit on the 11th, and then participate in the NATO summit.

In the interview, President Yoon stated, "Our specific support details for Ukraine will be judged while observing the level and content of cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including arms transactions, military technology transfers, and strategic material support," adding, "Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a decisive threat and a serious challenge to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe."

In particular, President Yoon called North Korea "clearly a menace to the international community" and warned Russia, which recently signed a treaty equivalent to a military alliance with North Korea, to "carefully consider whether South Korea or North Korea will be more beneficial to itself in the future."

He further stated, "Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been actively involved in North Korea sanctions resolutions, but it is now engaging in 'illegal' military cooperation, and concerns about Russia providing military and economic cooperation to North Korea are increasing," adding, "Russia's continued violation of UN resolutions will inevitably have a 'negative' impact on Korea-Russia relations as well."

Ahead of the NATO summit, President Yoon explained, "In September this year, we will invite NATO allies to a cyber defense exercise hosted by our intelligence agency in Seoul, elevating cooperation with NATO to a new level."

Regarding the Korea-U.S. alliance, he emphasized, "For over 70 years, it has maintained a bipartisan support base even within the United States," and added, "Therefore, I believe it will remain strong going forward."

According to the presidential office, President Yoon said in the interview that the Korea-U.S. extended deterrence system is also being strengthened in response to North Korea's threats.

President Yoon said, "The most realistic and desirable solution to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats is to firmly establish the Korea-U.S. extended deterrence system," and since the 'Washington Declaration' agreement last April, the Korea-U.S. alliance has been enhancing deterrence and response capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats through the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG).