Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a state visit to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, promising to strengthen trade and security ties and to support North Korea against the U.S., an ally of South Korea.
This development was reported by Reuters.
Concerns Over Military Support
The U.S. has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with "dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions" for use in the war in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, during a press briefing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said he is worried about Russia possibly helping North Korea with its missile and nuclear programs.
He also noted that Russia's war in Ukraine is supported by China, North Korea, and Iran, who want to see the Western alliance fail.
"We are also concerned about the potential support that Russia provides to North Korea when it comes to supporting their missile and nuclear programs," Stoltenberg said.
He added that this, along with China's support for Russia's war efforts, shows how security issues in Europe are connected to those in Asia.
Strengthening Alliances
Stoltenberg mentioned that the upcoming NATO summit in Washington will focus on strengthening partnerships with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan.
He stressed that there should be consequences for China for supporting Russia's war, though it's still unclear what those might be.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said that Washington is watching the North Korea-Russia relationship "very, very closely" because it could affect security on the Korean Peninsula.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre also said that deeper cooperation between Russia and North Korea should concern anyone who cares about peace and stability in the region.
She referred to a statement from Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which emphasized resolving the Korean issue through political and diplomatic means.
She hoped that Putin would share this message with Kim Jong Un during their talks.
U.S. Response
Blinken described Putin's visit to North Korea as a sign of his "desperation" to strengthen relations with countries that can support his war in Ukraine.
He noted that China's support has helped Russia maintain its defense capabilities by providing 70% of Moscow's machine tool imports and 90% of its microelectronics.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed concern about what Russia might give North Korea in return for weapons.
Under Secretary of State Bonnie Jenkins believes North Korea wants to get fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, and other advanced technologies from Russia.
