South Korea: Acting President Han and Japan PM Reaffirm Trilateral Security Alliance with US Against North Korea-Russia Relations
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Seoul, Dec 19 (NationPress) South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo conducted a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday, reaching an agreement to persist with trilateral security cooperation alongside the United States in response to the intensifying military relationships between North Korea and Russia, as reported by officials.
Han's discussion with Ishiba took place following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol by the National Assembly last Saturday, which was prompted by his brief implementation of martial law on December 3.
The leaders concurred on the importance of collaboratively maintaining and advancing bilateral relations while staying in close contact to prepare for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year, according to Han's office.
"Both sides recognized the necessity to uphold robust cooperation between South Korea and Japan, and among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, in light of the North Korean nuclear threat and the growing partnership between Russia and North Korea," the office stated in a press release, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Han further assured Ishiba that all state operations would be conducted in strict adherence to the Constitution and legal frameworks, committing to execute diplomacy and security strategies without any delays.
Previously, on December 16, the Ukrainian military released images and videos that reportedly show numerous North Korean soldiers who had perished alongside Russian forces in the Kursk border region of Russia.
Moreover, both South Korea and the United States have charged North Korea with deploying thousands of soldiers to Russia, some of whom have reportedly engaged in combat in the Kursk border area.
In recent reports, it was noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russia's Defence Minister during his visit and expressed his backing for Russia's military endeavors against Ukraine. During this meeting, Kim condemned the United States and the West for allowing Ukraine to utilize supplied long-range missiles to strike against Russia, labeling it a 'direct' military intervention.
According to state media in Pyongyang, Kim had a "friendly and trustworthy" meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on November 29, amidst reports of North Korea dispatching thousands of troops to Russia in support of Moscow's military actions against Ukraine.
