The U.S. Department of State expressed concern on the 18th over Kim Jong Un sending a celebrating message of deepening cooperation between the two countries to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was successfully re-elected for the fifth time.
In response to a related inquiry from News1, the Department of State spokesperson pointed out, “The deepening of cooperation between North Korea and Russia is a trend that should be of great concern to anyone interested in preserving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the global non-proliferation scheme, and supporting the Ukrainian people who are defending their freedom and independence against Russia’s brutal invasion war.”
The spokesperson emphasized, “As has been the case since the start of the war in Ukraine, we will continue to work to identify, expose, and respond to Russia’s attempts to acquire military equipment from any country that is prepared to support North Korea and the war against Ukraine.”
Regarding the arms trade between North Korea and Russia, he said, “We repeatedly emphasize that any transfer of weapons between North Korea and Russia directly violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
He pointed out, “This includes resolutions that Russia itself supported after North Korea’s past nuclear tests and missile launches.”
The Department of State spokesperson added, “We will continue to raise our concerns directly in various forums, including the Security Council and the North Korea Sanctions Committee.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Department of State strongly condemned North Korea’s test-firing of three short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) to coincide with the U.S.-South Korea foreign ministers’ meeting, calling it a “violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
The spokesperson criticized, “Like other ballistic missile launches in recent years, this launch also violates multiple Security Council resolutions. They pose a threat to North Korea’s neighbors and undermine security in the region.”
He added, “We are committed to a diplomatic approach to North Korea and urge North Korea to engage in dialogue. Our commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad.”
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, also said in a briefing on the day in response to a related question, “We strongly condemn the ballistic missile launch on March 18 (Korean time).”
Principal Deputy Spokesperson Patel said, “We will continue to closely consult with South Korea, Japan, other allies and partners to engage with North Korea, deter aggressive behavior, and coordinate an international response to North Korea which is violating multiple Security Council resolutions.”
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired more than three SRBMs into the East Sea from the vicinity of Pyongyang from around 7:44 a.m. to 8:22 a.m. on the 18th (Korean time).