A U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed “great concerns” Wednesday over a deepening military partnership between North Korea and Russia, after Moscow set in motion a ratification process for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty with North Korea.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, commented on the two countries’ partnership, as Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma, Russia’s lower legislative house, a bill on the ratification of the treaty on Monday, according to Russian media.
“We continue to have great concerns about the growing security relationship between Russia and North Korea,” Miller said.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty that calls for one party to provide military aid to the other “without delay” in the event of an armed invasion — a pledge that many said amounted to a revival of the two countries’ Cold War-era military alliance.
The signing of the treaty raised prospects of greater military co
operation between the North and Russia at a time when both countries are facing diplomatic isolation and sanctions pressure with Pyongyang sticking to its nuclear and missile programs and Moscow waging the much criticized war against Ukraine.
In a separate briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the U.S. will “always” closely monitor security conditions on the Korean Peninsula as she addressed a question about continuing tensions in Korea.
Cross-border tensions have heightened as Pyongyang blew up parts of roads linked to South Korea this week in a show of its deepening enmity toward the South, which it has branded as a “primary foe.”
“We are going to always monitor, watch closely, and certainly be in coordination with our South Korean allies,” she said.
“We’re going to also continue to urge North Korea to reduce tensions and cease any actions that could increase the risk of conflict. And that is something that we’ve been doing pretty consistently.”
Source: Yonhap News Agency