Blinken Voices Worries About Russia Tolerating North Korea’s Nuclear Ambitions During South Korea Visit

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about Russia potentially recognizing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and transferring advanced space and satellite technology. Blinken confirmed the strong commitment of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and expressed trust in the acting presidential administration of Choi Sang Mok.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Blinken visited South Korea during his farewell tour before his departure. Following his meeting with Choi, he emphasized his complete trust in the resilience of Korean democracy and the leadership of the acting administration. He reiterated the unwavering U.S. commitment to South Korea’s defense. Choi highlighted that Blinken’s visit underscored the steadfastness of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

Blinken met with South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cho Tae Yul, marking their first meeting since martial law was declared on December 3 and only their third interaction since the lifting of martial law. During a joint press conference immediately following their meeting, Blinken revealed that Vladimir Putin is nearing a point where he might reverse decades of policy by tolerating North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. “Now, we have reason to believe that Moscow intends to share advance space and satellite technology with Pyongyang,” he added.

Concerns have consistently arisen over Russia potentially offering advanced military technology, including reconnaissance satellites, in exchange for North Korean troop deployments in the Ukraine war. Highlighting the scale of the conflict, Blinken pointed out that 1,000 North Korean soldiers either died or were injured in Kursk at the end of December last year. He viewed this as a sign of deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia, asserting that the Atlantic and Pacific cannot be separated regarding security. He emphasized that Russia’s ongoing ability to attack Ukraine relies not only on North Korean artillery and troops but also on support from China.

The U.S. and South Korea reaffirmed the strength of their alliance despite political turmoil, including the martial law declaration and impeachment of the president and prime minister. Cho stated, “I have communicated with Blinken and Ambassador Philip Goldberg in the past month, confirming perfect trust between the U.S. and South Korea. We have no fears or anxieties regarding the U.S.-South Korea relationship.” Blinken expressed concerns about some measures President Yoon Suk Yeol took and that the past few weeks have tested Korean democracy, but the Korean people have responded with resilience. He conveyed confidence that Korea would continue progressing as a leading democratic nation under its constitution.

Blinken also visited National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik. Woo said, “I will send a special delegation to the U.S. early this year to emphasize cooperation for the U.S.-South Korea alliance.”