NATO Expresses Alarm Over North Korea’s Military Aid to Russia, Urges Chinese Restraint

On the 10th, local time, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries expressed, “We strongly condemn North Korea’s exports of artillery shells and ballistic missiles, which violate numerous UN Security Council resolutions, and note with great concern the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia.”

The NATO leaders, currently holding a meeting in Washington D.C. to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the organization’s founding, expressed strong concerns about cooperation between North Korea and Russia in a joint declaration.

The leaders condemned, “North Korea and Iran are fuelling Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine by providing direct military support to Russia, such as munitions and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), which seriously impacts Euro-Atlantic security and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.”

The leaders also labeled China as a decisive enabler in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pointing out that China’s support increased the threat Russia poses to its neighbors and European and Atlantic security. They urged China to cease all material and political support for Russia’s war efforts, specifically calling for a halt to transferring dual-use items such as weapon components and equipment, and raw materials that Russia can use in its defense industry.

The leaders assessed that China’s ambitions and aggressive policies continue to challenge NATO’s interests, security, and values. NATO urged China to participate in dialogues to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons and to act responsibly in space and cyberspace. On the contrary, China is rapidly increasing its nuclear weapons.

NATO leaders announced that they will hold a joint meeting with leaders from South Korea, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the European Union (EU) on the 11th to discuss common challenges and areas of cooperation. The leaders stated, “The Indo-Pacific is important for NATO, given that developments in that region directly affect Euro-Atlantic security. We welcome the continued contributions of our Asia-Pacific partners to Euro-Atlantic security.”