North's arms are fueling Russia's war effort, German defense chief says during Seoul visit

North Korean arms shipments are enabling Russia to maintain its weapons stockpile as it continues its invasion of Ukraine, Germany’s chief of defense said on Monday.

German Chief of Defense Gen. Carsten Breuer, left, and German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt speak to reporters at a hotel in central Seoul on Monday afternoon. [GERMAN EMBASSY IN SEOUL]

North Korean arms shipments are enabling Russia to maintain its weapons stockpile as it continues its invasion of Ukraine, Germany’s chief of defense said on Monday during a visit to South Korea to highlight security cooperation between Berlin and Seoul.

Speaking to reporters at a hotel in central Seoul, Gen. Carsten Breuer said that North Korean weapons “have certainly been useful [to Russia] because otherwise Putin would not have reached out for support,” adding that the arms shipments allow Russia to increase its own armaments production and “keep their stockpiles as they would like.”

Breuer’s press briefing took place three days after the German frigate Baden-Wurttemberg and supply ship Frankfurt am Main arrived in Incheon on a port call during the country’s Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024, which is intended to bolster German maritime diplomacy and security cooperation in the region.

In his comments, Breuer commended “the dedication, commitment and professionalism of the crew,” whom he noted have now spent more than 100 days at sea.

According to the German chief of defense, the ships are engaged in a variety of multilateral missions, including monitoring United Nations sanctions against North Korea, transiting the South China Sea and participating in the Rim of the Pacific maritime warfare exercise.

While declining to offer details of the ships’ future route, Breuer said their mission, as well as Germany’s decision to join the United Nations Command, highlights the seriousness of Germany’s commitment to security cooperation in the region.

However, the German chief of defense emphasized that Berlin’s approach is “multilateral and inclusive” and is “not directed against anyone,” noting that it is “focused on maintaining the rules-based international order.”

In response to a question about whether Germany is urging South Korea to sell weapons to Ukraine, Breuer said “it is necessary that every country does what they can do to support Ukraine,” adding that his country is “trying [its] utmost to support Ukraine in training and rebuilding their forces.”

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]