US, South Korea and Japan condemn Moscow-Pyongyang military cooperation

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The US, South Korea and Japan on Monday condemned the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

In a joint statement, the three nations said the “continued arms transfers” between Pyongyang and Moscow “prolong” suffering of the Ukrainian people, “violate” multiple UN Security Council Resolutions, and “threaten stability” in both Northeast Asia and Europe.

The reaction came in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent trip to North Korea where he signed a pact with Kim Jong-un to provide each other military assistance “without delay” if either is attacked by a third country.

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo said the signing of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang “should be of grave concern to anyone with an interest in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

The three allies said they will “further strengthen diplomatic and security cooperation to counter the threats” Pyongyang allegedly poses to regional and global security and to prevent escalation of the situation.

They, however, added that the path to dialogue “remains open,” urging Pyongyang to “cease further provocations and return to negotiations.”

Meanwhile, North Korea on Monday condemned the US for sending a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Korean Peninsula and warned of "all possible deterrents."

In a short statement, Vice Minister of National Defense Kim Kang Il strongly denounced the "hostile forces" for their "provocative acts" and is ready to demonstrate all the possible deterrent."

The USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived on the peninsula ahead of the first-ever trilateral multidomain exercises among the US, Japan, and South Korea, dubbed as Freedom Edge, which will be held later this month.

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to this story