S. Korea, U.S., Japan note N.K. arms transfers violate UNSC resolutions

▲ Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo gives a briefing at the presidential office building in Seoul on Nov. 8, 2023. (Yonhap)

S Korea-US-Japan talks

S. Korea, U.S., Japan note N.K. arms transfers violate UNSC resolutions

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- Senior officials of South Korea, the United States and Japan noted Thursday that any arms transfer by North Korea is a violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the presidential office said.

The issue was discussed by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo, U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and deputy head of Japan's National Security Secretariat Keiichi Ichikawa during a secure video conference, it said in a press release.

"They noted that any arms transfer by North Korea is a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and especially noted that the obligation and responsibility of Russia, which took part in producing the resolutions, to abide by them are even greater," it said.

North Korea has been suspected of transferring weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine in exchange for technological assistance in developing its nuclear and missile program.

"The three countries' participants agreed that given the continued denial of mutual military cooperation by Russia and North Korea, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan should cooperate even more closely," the presidential office said.

The three sides also agreed to further strengthen the trilateral cooperation mechanisms established at the Camp David summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, while actively responding to North Korea's additional provocations and North Korea-Russia military cooperation as members of the UNSC this year.

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