Authors: Humela Pamuk and David Brunstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin began his first visit to the reclusive nuclear-armed nation in 24 years, NATO leaders said on Tuesday, raising concerns that Russia could provide support for North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.
Putin, who is on a state visit for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has vowed to deepen trade and security ties and support North Korea in its fight against the United States, a close ally of arch-rival South Korea.
The United States accuses North Korea of supplying Russia with “dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of ammunition” for use in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a joint news conference after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Russia’s war in Ukraine is backed by China, North Korea and Iran, which all want to see to the failure of the Western Alliance.
“We are certainly concerned about potential Russian support for North Korea in terms of supporting its missile and nuclear programs,” Stoltenberg said.
This, along with China’s support for Russia’s wartime economy, shows how Europe’s security challenges are linked to Asia, he said, adding that next month’s NATO summit in Washington would further strengthen alliances with Australia, New Zealand , Korea and Japan partnership.
Stoltenberg said there would need to be “consequences” for China at some stage.
“They cannot continue to have normal trade relations with European countries while exacerbating Europe’s largest war since World War II,” he said.
Stoltenberg said it was too early to say what those consequences might be, “but it has to be something we need to address because continuing as we are today is not feasible.”
On Monday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby (NYSE: ) said Washington was watching North Korea’s relationship with Russia “very, very closely” because “there may be some reciprocity… that could Affecting the security of the Korean Peninsula.”
On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at a news conference that deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea is “a trend that should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
She pointed to statements made by Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the May summit that emphasized political and diplomatic means as the only way to resolve the North Korean problem, adding: “We hope this is Putin’s message to Kim Jong Un.” “
At a briefing with Stoltenberg, Blinken said Putin’s trip to Pyongyang showed his “desperate” desire to strengthen ties with countries that could support his war in Ukraine.
He added that Chinese support enabled Russia to maintain its defense industrial base, providing Moscow with 70% of imported machine tools and 90% of microelectronics. “This has to stop,” he said.
Last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Washington was concerned about what Russia would offer North Korea in exchange for weapons provided by Pyongyang.
“Hard currency? Is it energy? Is it the capability that allows them to advance nuclear or missile products? We don’t know. But we are concerned about it and watching it carefully,” he said.
Deputy Secretary of State Bonnie Jenkins, a senior U.S. arms control official, said she believed North Korea was keen to obtain advanced technology from Russia such as fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials.
