This stance was expressed during a meeting in Seoul, which focused on nuclear weapons issues.
Jong-Park, the top US official for North Korean affairs, emphasized the need for attention and coordinated action in response to North Korea's transfer of short-range ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia. Park expressed deep concern over North Korea's escalating hostile rhetoric towards South Korea.
Hiroyuki Namazu, representing Japan at the meeting, strongly denounced North Korea's ballistic missile launches. He stressed the importance of vigilantly monitoring potential exchanges between Pyongyang and Russia, particularly what North Korea might receive from Russia in return for the weapons.
North Korea's Involvement in the Conflict:
- The White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby revealed that Russia had purchased ballistic missiles from North Korea, which have been used in attacks on Ukraine.
- Reports emerged that Kharkiv was struck by North Korean missiles, later confirmed by the prosecutor's office with additional details.
- Vadym Skibitsky, a representative from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, informed that North Korea had been actively supplying ammunition to Russia, potentially amounting to about a million shells.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation, referring to the supply of North Korean missiles to Russia as crossing a "red line."
The unified condemnation by the US, South Korea, and Japan underscores the international community's concerns over North Korea's role in the conflict and its broader implications for global security and stability.
