Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has criticised the recent security pact between Russia and North Korea, labelling it as destabilising for the region. Speaking to reporters in Paju after visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, Wong highlighted North Korea’s weapon transfers to Russia as a “flagrant violation” of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Escalatory Actions and International Violations
Wong expressed concerns over Russia’s behaviour, describing it as escalatory and not conducive to peace. The security pact, signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, entails immediate military assistance between the two nations if either faces armed aggression. This deepening military cooperation has alarmed Washington and its allies, who accuse both nations of breaching international laws by trading weapons for use in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Both Pyongyang and Moscow deny these allegations.
“The continued transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia is a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Wong reiterated.
Shared Concerns and Cooperative Efforts
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul echoed Wong’s concerns about the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. During their meeting, Cho stated, “Korea and Australia are aligned in our vision for upholding the rules-based order in the region.”
In addition to discussing security issues, South Korea and Australia plan to initiate a dialogue on economic security and conduct annual talks on climate-related matters, according to a statement from the South Korean foreign ministry.
Strengthening Regional Alliances
Wong’s visit to Seoul follows her attendance at summits in Laos with the ASEAN bloc and a meeting of Quad foreign ministers in Tokyo, which included counterparts from the United States, Japan, and India. Ahead of her trip, Wong emphasised Australia’s commitment to strengthening its strategic alignment with South Korea through expanded bilateral and regional cooperation, focusing on energy transition and economic security.
With Inputs from Reuters
