Blinken slams North-Russia arms deals during visit to Seoul

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned “two-way street” arms deals between Russia and North Korea during his visit to Seoul on Thursday…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Park Jin at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. [YONHAP]

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned “two-way street” arms deals between Russia and North Korea during his visit to Seoul on Thursday.

“We’re seeing the DPRK provide military equipment to Russia for pursuing its aggression against Ukraine, but we’re also seeing Russia provide technology and support to the DPRK for its own military programs,” Blinken told reporters in a joint press meeting with Foreign Minister Park Jin in Seoul on Thursday, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Evidence of such two-way arms deals pose “a real concern” on several levels, Blinken said, not only for the security of the Korean Peninsula and the global nonproliferation regime, but also in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine and the North’s continued violations of the UN Security Council resolutions.

Blinken, in his first visit to the country in three years, also met with President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in the day, during which Yoon pledged more robust cooperation with the United States to bolster regional security and “solidify the rules-based international order,” according to the presidential office.

Evidence of North Korean arms in the hands of the militant group Hamas was also addressed jointly by Blinken and Park after their meeting.

Despite United Nations sanctions against North Korea, reports indicate that weapons manufactured in Pyongyang were used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during its incursion into Israel.

“We are watching closely for any signs of exchange of weapons or military strategy between Hamas and North Korea,” Park told the press in Seoul. “Should any links be confirmed, the North will be condemned accordingly.”

Both parties also floated Beijing’s leverage over the North.

“North Korea is the greatest source of instability. China has a unique relationship with North Korea. As a result of that relationship, it has real influence,” Blinken told the press. “And we do look to China to use that influence to play a constructive role in pulling North Korea back from this irresponsible and dangerous behavior.”

With Korea and Japan joining the council next year, Blinken said further discussions on the security of the Korean Peninsula are expected to be discussed at the council, including the future of the inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018 to reduce military tensions.

“This is obviously an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK,” Blinken said, alluding to the recent discussions in Korea about scrapping the agreement in light of increased military provocations from the North. “But it's something that's come up in discussions here today, and we are having consultations on it. ”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will follow up on these discussions during his upcoming visit to Seoul this coming weekend, Blinken added.

“The door to dialogue is still open for the North,” Park said. “The road to denuclearize still stands, and the Republic of Korea and the United States, with the international community, urges it to take it.”

Blinken was in Tokyo before flying into Seoul and was scheduled to visit India. He previously stopped by Israel to reiterate U.S. support for Israel’s “right to defend itself against terrorism” and to call for the immediate release of hostages. He also visited Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Iraq and Turkey to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]