South Korean President Yul (right) during an official dinner with his American counterpart Biden at the White House last spring (European)
The South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Russian diplomats to file complaints about Moscow's criticism of President Yeon Suk-yul's statements about North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear arsenal.
The ministry explained that Chung Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev - yesterday, Saturday - to inform him that Moscow's criticism of the president's statements would have a negative impact on relations between the two countries.
A statement from the ministry said, “Chung said that it is very regrettable that Russia ignores the truth and protects North Korea unconditionally, while criticizing the statements of the country’s president in very rude language. He explained that “this will only lead to a worsening of Korean-Russian relations.”
Yoon said at a meeting last Wednesday of defense and security officials that "the North Korean regime does anything to preserve its hereditary totalitarian regime, while blatantly ignoring international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions through arms trade with Russia."
The next day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Yoon's comments as "blatantly biased." She told reporters that the comments "seem particularly outrageous, in light of the growing tension on the Korean Peninsula due to the brazen policy pursued by the United States and its allies, including South Korea and Japan."
The South Korean Foreign Ministry said today that the Deputy Minister met with his visiting Russian counterpart, Andrei Rudenko, on Friday, and conveyed Seoul's strict position on military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The South Korean ministry indicated that Kim Jong-un, Seoul's nuclear envoy, also met with Rudenko. The statement said that Chung and Rudenko also discussed issues including Russia's war in Ukraine.
In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today that “views were exchanged” during Rudenko’s meetings in Seoul with Chung and other officials. The Russian side expressed serious concerns about the sharp escalation of tension in the sub-region.”
She added, "It was clearly indicated that the main source of tension is the irresponsible provocative policy of Washington, which is trying, for its own geopolitical purposes, to encourage allies in the region to implement their aggressive plans fraught with unpredictable consequences, including in the military field."
Washington and its allies see Russian President Vladimir Putin as strengthening ties with Pyongyang since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The United States and its allies have condemned what they say are large shipments of North Korean missiles to Russia to aid its war efforts.
Source: Agencies