The South Korean presidential office announced on the 20th, “We express serious concerns and condemn North Korea and Russia’s decision to sign a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership, which will strengthen military and economic cooperation.”
Chang Ho Jin, head of the National Security Office, announced during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan that afternoon that the government will announce a statement concerning signing a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia. Chang condemned the treaty, stating, “It is absurd for both parties, who have a history of initiating wars of aggression such as the Korean War and the Ukraine War, to promise military cooperation based on the premise of a preemptive strike that will not even occur in the international community. This is a sophistry of those who have discarded the responsibility and norms of the international community.”
Chang stated, “The government emphasizes that any cooperation that directly or indirectly assists North Korea’s military buildup violates UN Security Council resolutions and will be monitored and sanctioned by the international community.”
He further added, “Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council that has led the resolution on sanctions against North Korea, is undermining our security by violating this resolution and supporting North Korea. This will inevitably hurt Korea-Russia relations.” Chang emphasized, “The government will firmly address any actions that threaten our security in collaboration with the international community and will further strengthen the extended deterrence of the Korea-US alliance to neutralize North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities and the Korea-US-Japan security cooperation system.”