Government Urges Russia to Restrain Tensions After Criticizing US-ROK Drills and Defending North Korea

On the 7th, the government criticized a Russian official who defended North Korea's enhancement of its defense capabilities, saying that the ROK-US joint exercises are causing regional tensions. The government stated, "If Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, wishes to play a constructive role in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, it should appropriately persuade North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions and to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy."

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official commented on the statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, saying, "What undermines regional peace and stability is North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development and provocations, which violate Security Council resolutions."

The official continued, "The ROK-US joint exercises are defensive measures to protect the lives and safety of our people in response to North Korea's increasingly advanced nuclear and missile threats," adding, "The ROK and the US have consistently expressed openness to dialogue with North Korea, but it is North Korea that has not responded to these proposals."

Furthermore, the official reiterated, "For strengthening stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asia region and building sustainable peace, North Korea's denuclearization and its return to dialogue are essential."

Ahead of the regular ROK-US joint exercises scheduled for the 10th, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a briefing the previous day, "There is still a tendency for tensions to escalate as joint military operations between South Korea and the United States continue," and added, "We believe that North Korea's measures to strengthen its defense capabilities, respond to external security threats, and protect its sovereignty are justified."