▲ This Oct. 19, 2024, file footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security of Ukraine shows what appears to be North Korean soldiers receiving gear from Russian soldiers. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

N Korea-Russia-cooperation

S. Korea, 9 other countries, EU decry N.K.-Russia cooperation

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and eight other countries, and a European Union representative condemned growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea "in the strongest possible terms" Monday, while reiterating their "unwavering" support for Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of the countries and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement, stressing that Pyongyang's direct support for Russia's war in Ukraine marks a "dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security."

"The DPRK's export of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other military materiel to Russia for use against Ukraine and Russia's training of DPRK soldiers involving arms or related materiel represent flagrant violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), and 2270 (2016)," they said in the statement.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We are deeply concerned about any political, military, or economic support that Russia may be providing to the DPRK's illegal weapons programs, including weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, which would exacerbate the already tense environment on the Korean Peninsula," they added.

The officials reaffirmed their "unwavering" commitment to back Ukraine and called for Pyongyang to stop its support for Russia.

"We urge the DPRK to cease immediately all assistance for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including by withdrawing its troops," they said. "We urge Russia to immediately end its war of aggression against Ukraine and cease its military cooperation with the DPRK."

The statement came as Pyongyang is seen providing military assistance to Moscow, including its troop deployment to Russia's western front-line Kursk region, despite criticism that the two countries' military alignment would further prolong the war in Ukraine.

Kyiv's intelligence authorities have said that some 200 Russian and North Korean soldiers were estimated to have been killed while fighting in combined units against Ukrainian forces.

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