Blinken: “China must help deter North Korea’s dangerous actions.”
Park Jin: “Increased tension through North Korea-Russia military cooperation won’t benefit China.”
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated on the 9th that “North Korea is not only providing military equipment to Russia but also receiving technical support for its military program from Russia.”
Secretary Blinken expressed this concern during a joint press conference following the Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, stating, “Both our countries are very concerned about the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.”
This face-to-face meeting between Minister Park Jin and Secretary Blinken was the first after a trilateral Foreign Ministers’ informal meeting with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa at the UN General Assembly in New York last September. It has been approximately 2 years and 8 months since a U.S. Secretary of State last visited Korea.
Minister Park urged North Korea to “immediately halt all provocations, including so-called satellite launches,” and promised that “the two countries will closely cooperate in the future to strengthen the implementation of extended deterrence.”
In response, Secretary Blinken stated, “We will faithfully implement the contents of the discussions between the two countries’ leaders in the Washington Declaration through the Korea-U.S. Extended Deterrence Strategy and Nuclear Consultation Group and deal with North Korea’s provocations and missile actions.”
Both ministers emphasized the need for China’s constructive role amid escalating tensions due to North Korea-Russia military cooperation, the instability in Northeast Asia, and North Korea’s threats.
Minister Park asserted, “I don’t think China would be happy about the close ties and military cooperation and arms trade between North Korea and Russia.”
He added, “If tensions escalate in Northeast Asia due to military cooperation and arms trade between Russia and North Korea, amid the ongoing security crisis in Europe due to the Ukraine war, it would not be in China’s national interest.”
Secretary Blinken also emphasized China’s influence on North Korea, stating, “China should play a constructive role in ensuring North Korea steps back from irresponsible and dangerous behavior.”
Furthermore, Minister Park expressed deep concern over the increase in civilian casualties due to the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas about the Middle East situation, condemning “indiscriminate attacks on Israel by Hamas.”
Secretary Blinken thanked President Yoon Suk Yeol for discussing the military risks between the two countries at the UN General Assembly, stating, “South Korea will play an important role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.” He added, “The U.S. views South Korea as a significant economic partnership.”
By. Choi Yoon Sun
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