▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of their talks at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in the Russian Far East on Sept. 13, 2023, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

S Korea-US-Japan-NK arms deal

S. Korea, U.S., Japan issue joint statement condemning N. Korea's arms transfers to Russia

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the United States and Japan issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's provision of military equipment and munitions to Russia, saying they have confirmed some of such weapons deliveries.

The three countries "strongly condemn the provision of military equipment and munitions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the Russian Federation for use against the government and people of Ukraine," said the statement issued under the names of their top diplomats.

"Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia's war of aggression. We will continue to work together with the international community to expose Russia's attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK," it said.

In return for such a supply of weapons, North Korea is seeking military assistance to advance its own military capabilities, the statement said, stressing that arms transfers to or from the North would violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"We are deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to the DPRK," the statement said.

"Such transfers would jeopardize the ongoing efforts of the international community to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of actors who are working to destabilize regional security, threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as across the globe," it said.

Speculation has been growing over a possible arms deal between the North and Russia following last month's rare summit between leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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