NATO Seeks ‘Stronger’ Ties With South Korea as North Korea Accused of Arming Russia

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gives a press conference after a bilateral meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 10, 2021. John Thys/AFP via Getty Images

NATO said on Sunday that it sought to bolster military ties with South Korea in the wake of global security threats and North Korea’s “reckless” missile tests.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg embarked on a two-day visit to South Korea on Sunday, where he met with foreign minister Park Jin and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery.

During his meeting with Park, Stoltenberg emphasized the need for democratic countries to stand together to promote rules-based international order while urging stronger cooperation between NATO and South Korea.

“We are, of course, concerned about the reckless missile tests and nuclear programs of North Korea. And the war in Ukraine also has ramifications for your region,” Stoltenberg said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Stoltenberg said that global security threats were “interconnected” because North Korea was supplying missiles and rockets to Russia, echoing an earlier claim made by the United States.

“There are many areas where we really believe that even stronger partnership between the Republic of Korea and NATO can be a mutual benefit,” he added, referring to South Korea’s official name.

Park said that South Korea “looks forward to working more closely with NATO” to tackle emerging security threats and called for solidarity among countries.

Stoltenberg also met with President Yoon Suk-yeol and reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to supporting South Korea in its efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Stoltenberg will depart for Japan on Monday to meet with Japanese leader Fumio Kishida and other government officials.

North Korean state media on Monday published a statement condemning Stoltenberg’s visit to South Korea as “a prelude to confrontation” in the Asia-Pacific region.

Evidence of North Korea Supplying Weapons

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Jan. 20 there was evidence that North Korea supplied weapons to Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, pointing to images allegedly showing Russian railcars traveling to North Korea in November.

The images were marked to show five railcars, allegedly belonging to Russia, traveling to North Korea on Nov. 18 and returning to Russia the next day.

Kirby did not specify how many weapons Wagner Group had received from North Korea.

“While we assess that the amount of material delivered to Wagner has not changed battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, we do expect that it will continue to receive North Korean weapons systems,” he told reporters.

“We obviously condemn North Korea’s actions, and we urge North Korea to cease these deliveries to Wagner immediately,” Kirby added.

North Korea has continued to advances its nuclear weapons and missile programs despite facing sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.

Kirby said that North Korea evaded sanctions to continue funneling money into its economy.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks next to what state media reports is the "Hwasong-17" intercontinental ballistic missile on its launch vehicle in an undated photo released on March 25, 2022. KCNA via Reuters

“Not every country that should observes the sanctions regime, so they are still able to trade with countries like Russia and with China,” Kirby said. “Obviously, that’s a whole different set of problems, but they are able to skirt sanctions to continue to funnel money into their economy.”

“But let’s keep it in perspective. This is not a burgeoning economy. This is not a country that is wealthy by any stretch or is necessarily viable and flexible in the global economy,” Kirby added.

Both North Korea and Wagner have denied the U.S. claims.

Kwon Jong Gun, director general of North Korea’s Department of U.S. Affairs, warned on Sunday of “undesirable results” if the United States persists in making “groundless” accusations against North Korea, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

“Trying to tarnish the image of the DPRK by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that can not but trigger its reaction,” Kwon stated, using North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

China and Russia vetoed a vote pushed by the United States to strengthen sanctions on North Korea last year. North Korea fired an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, one of which involved a Hwasong-17, which experts dubbed a “monster missile” capable of striking anywhere in the United States and beyond.