The politician answered the Reuters news agency’s questions in writing before his planned visit to Washington for the NATO summit. According to the interview published on Monday, the politician also warned that Moscow must choose between the two Koreas.
“It completely depends on Russia” in what direction it wants to steer relations with South Korea in the future, Jun said, adding that Seoul will decide on military support to Ukraine depending on how the new military pact between Moscow and Pyongyang develops. “Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a clear threat and a serious challenge to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and Europe,” he stated.
Jun is the first South Korean leader to attend a NATO summit in 2022. Australia, Japan and New Zealand will also be present at the summit in Washington.
According to the international community, Pyongyang is supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and artillery for the war in Ukraine. Russia and North Korea both deny this.
Russia has called South Korea “the friendliest of unfriendly countries” and Russian President Vladimir Putin said Seoul would make a “big mistake” if it decided to supply arms to Ukraine.
South Korea protested when Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in June and signed a mutual defense treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“North Korea clearly poses a threat to the international community,” Jun said.
“I hope that Russia will soberly decide which side – the south or the north – is more important and necessary for its own interests”. He added, “The future of relations between the Republic of Korea and Russia depends entirely on Russia’s actions,” Jun asserted.
Russia has entered into an “illegal” military partnership with North Korea, Jun said, adding that it is disturbing to think what kind of help Russia will give Pyongyang in return.
