Australia’s foreign minister has voiced strong condemnation of the recent defense deal between North Korea and Russia, labeling it a destabilizing force with global implications. Penny Wong, during a visit to the tense border village shared by North and South Korea, expressed her concerns over the pact, stating it poses a significant risk to global security.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized a pact promising mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on either country, deepening international worries about the escalating ties between the two nations. The United States and its allies have consistently accused North Korea of supplying crucial conventional weapons to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine, allegedly in exchange for military and economic support.
Wong emphasized the destabilizing nature of the pact, stating, “I also want to say something about the security pact between North Korea and Russia. And say again, this is destabilizing. This is risky for the world and again we say Russia is behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory.” Her remarks followed a visit to the southern side of the Korean border village of Panmunjom.
The Australian Foreign Minister further criticized North Korea’s recent string of missile tests, deeming them a threat to regional security. “We share great concerns about DPRK’s escalatory reactions, destabilizing actions,” she declared, using the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Wong’s visit also included a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul, where they pledged to collaborate with the international community in addressing the growing concerns surrounding the North Korean-Russian military partnerships. The two ministers also committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation on issues like economic security, climate change, and other areas of shared interest, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
The Korean Peninsula has witnessed heightened tensions in recent months, marked by North Korea’s actions such as launching trash-carrying balloons towards South Korea and persisting with weapons tests. In response, South Korea has taken steps like resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and conducting live-fire drills near the border areas.
