US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed worry about North Koreaʼs nuclear and missile threats‚ as well as its growing military backing for Russia in Ukraine. Campbell shared these thoughts after talking with South Korean and Japanese officials about reviving international pressure on North Korea‚ which has weakened in recent years due to UN Security Council disagreements
The US South Korea and Japan along with eight Western countries‚ plan to create a new team to watch over North Korea sanctions enforcement. This move comes after Russia blocked a UN resolution in March 2024 that ended UN expert monitoring of these sanctions. Western nations accused Russia of trying to hide its weapons purchases from North Korea for use in Ukraine
Campbell noted signs of North Korea sending more materials like artillery and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. He said‚ “We are worried by them and we agreed that we will continue to watch the situation closely“. However‚ he couldnʼt confirm Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyʼs claim that North Korea was also sending people to help Russia
North Korea has been making more threats against South Korea lately. It recently blew up unused road and rail routes that once connected the two countries‚ showing its anger towards South Koreaʼs government. Tensions have been high since 2022‚ as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un increased weapons testing and threats during Russiaʼs war on Ukraine
In response the US‚ South Korea‚ and Japan have strengthened their joint military exercises and nuclear deterrence strategies. South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun said after meeting with Campbell and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano‚ “We have agreed to keep a strong South Korea-US combined stance to respond firmly to North Korean provocations and improve security cooperation through close coordination between South Korea‚ the US‚ and Japan“
The diplomats also talked about wider regional issues. They spoke against “any one-sided attempts to change the status quo“ in Indo-Pacific waters and “unlawful maritime claims“ in the South China Sea. They also criticized Chinaʼs recent actions around Taiwan and stressed that “no further actions should be taken that could harm peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait“