Foreign media reports that North Korea began supplying weapons to Russia after the North Korea-Russia summit held last month are attracting attention.
If the report is confirmed to be true, the speculation that Russia will transfer cutting-edge military technology needed by North Korea in return is highly likely to become a reality, and military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula are expected to further increase.
On the 5th (local time), the U.S. CBS broadcast quoted a U.S. official as saying in a report from Ukraine’s Kiyubal, “North Korea has begun sending artillery to Russia.” CBS did not provide any other specific details, such as the quantity or supply method of North Korea’s ‘artillery’ supply, but focused on the possibility that North Korea’s weapons support against Russia was provided as a follow-up to the North Korea-Russia summit held on the 13th of last month.
There has been constant speculation in the international community that Russia has been in contact with North Korea to make up for the shortage of conventional weapons, such as artillery shells and ammunition, due to the prolongation of the war since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The reason was that there was a possibility that Russia would transfer the technology needed to develop and complete North Korea’s reconnaissance satellite in return for receiving weapons from North Korea to be used in the war in Ukraine.
In particular, with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea in July this year on the occasion of North Korea’s ‘Victory Day’ (the day the Korean War armistice agreement was signed), and North Korea’s Workers’ Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un’s visit to Russia in September and the summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin, both North Korea and Russia are engaging in military cooperation. Domestic and international attention has been focused on cooperation trends.
North Korea previously attempted to launch a reconnaissance satellite twice, in May and August, but both failed, and a third launch attempt has been announced this month. Meanwhile, the North Korea-Russia summit in September was held at Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Region, one of Russia’s space development bases for satellite launches. Prior to the meeting with Secretary General Kim, President Putin also expressed his intention to help North Korea develop a satellite.
Accordingly, our government has also been paying close attention to trends related to military cooperation, such as arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
In response to a question about the U.S. CBS report at a regular briefing on the 6th, Deputy Spokesperson Kim In-ae of the Ministry of Unification said, “There is nothing to confirm in detail,” but added, “We are closely watching related trends as movements between Russia and North Korea that may be of concern to the international community continue.” “He answered.
The act of UN member states trading arms with North Korea is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Accordingly, on the 19th of last month, following the North Korea-Russia summit, our government summoned Russian Ambassador to Korea Andrei Kulik and demanded that he “stop military cooperation with North Korea and comply with the Security Council resolution.”
And after President Yoon Seok-yeol warned in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 20th of last month (local time) that “We will not sit by and watch North Korea’s military transactions,” he was accused of being involved in North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, illegal financial transactions, and arms transactions with Russia and other countries. Ten North Korean and Slovak nationals, including North Korean Defense Minister Kang Soon-nam, and two companies based in Slovakia and Malaysia were each designated as targets of independent sanctions.
In the future, if arms trade or military technology transfers between North Korea and Russia are confirmed through ‘objective evidence,’ our government urges a response at the Security Council level, while linking and strengthening each country’s independent sanctions with the United States, Japan, and major European countries. It is expected that they will put pressure on North Korea and Russia in ways such as:
Experts also point out that Russia could consider supporting lethal weapons to Ukraine, something Russia has been wary of (Ewha Womans University Professor Park Won-gon).
However, the general observation is that the Russian side has so far claimed that the possibility of military cooperation, including arms trade, with North Korea is “groundless speculation,” so it is highly likely that it will deny it even if related evidence is presented.
In particular, since Russia holds the status of a permanent member of the Security Council along with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China, there are many predictions that if a joint response at the Security Council level due to arms trade with North Korea is pursued, it will try to block it by exercising its ‘veto’.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.