During a recent summit in Seoul, South Korea, the leaders of South Korea and New Zealand expressed strong condemnation for the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The summit aimed to bolster bilateral ties between the two nations.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, on his inaugural visit to South Korea since assuming office in November, joined South Korean President in denouncing the expanding military collaboration between North Korea and Russia. They particularly criticized North Korea's export of ballistic missiles to Russia, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.
In a joint statement, the leaders condemned North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development programs in the strongest terms. They also voiced strong disapproval of Russia's war against Ukraine and pledged continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and pursuit of a just and lasting peace.
As part of their discussions, the leaders agreed to establish a regular bilateral economic security dialogue to address challenges and opportunities. They highlighted the significance of enhancing trade and economic relations, noting that the trade volume between South Korea and New Zealand has doubled over the past decade.
The United States, South Korea, and their allies have consistently accused North Korea of providing conventional arms to Russia to aid its invasion of Ukraine in exchange for military and economic support. Concerns over the North Korea-Russia ties escalated following a pact signed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in June, which outlined mutual military assistance in case of an attack on either country.
