South Korea has expressed regret that Russia and North Korea discussed military cooperation during their leaders’ meeting, as Seoul is closely monitoring the possibility of joint military drills between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Officials said South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will use his address next week at the United Nations General Assembly to stress grave concern over the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
“Despite repeated warnings from the international community, I am deeply concerned and regretful that the North Korea-Russia summit has discussed the issue of military cooperation, including satellite development,” South Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk told reporters on Thursday.
Seoul is seeking a meeting with Russian diplomats, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks at Russia’s most modern spaceport, the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Putin has accepted an invitation from Kim to visit North Korea, according to Pyongyang’s state media.