US-led drills pose threat to peace in Asia
The US, South Korea, and Japan are increasing the number of joint military drills, some of which involve 'a nuclear component,' Lavrov told reporters at a press conference in Wonsan on Saturday.
'This does not contribute to peace and stability, not only on the Korean Peninsula but throughout Northeast Asia,' the diplomat said, expressing skepticism about Seoul's intentions to normalize relations with Pyongyang.
Lavrov condemned what he described as 'dangerous attempts by actors outside the Indo-Pacific to form exclusive alliances and expand NATO infrastructure in the region.' He emphasized that countries should not build alliances at the expense of others, adding that both Russia and North Korea are committed to 'equal and indivisible security' for all nations in Eurasia.
The US, South Korea, and Japan conducted joint exercises this week involving the deployment of America's nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bombers. In a joint statement, the allies accused Pyongyang of 'unlawful activities' that 'destabilize the Korean Peninsula.'
Russia and North Korea signed a defense pact in June 2024, after which Pyongyang dispatched troops to help expel Ukrainian forces from Russia's Kursk region later that year. The cooperation is a testament to the 'invincible brotherhood' between the two countries, Lavrov said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
US Patriots struggling against Russian weaponry in Ukraine
US-made Patriot air defense systems, long hailed as a cornerstone of Western military aid to Ukraine, are now struggling to intercept advanced Russian ballistic missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources. One unnamed Ukrainian official told the outlet that Russian ballistic missiles have become more maneuverable, allowing them to evade Patriot radar detection. He did not clarify what type of missiles he was referring to. Meanwhile, in light of the EU's efforts to wean itself from the American military-industrial complex amid uncertainty regarding continued US support for Ukraine, a next-generation European alternative is seeking to dethrone the Patriots, the report says. The upgraded Samp/T missile system, developed by the Franco-Italian joint venture Eurosam, is being promoted as better suited to handle current threats and features a new radar that reportedly detects targets at a distance of more than 350km while being able to fire missiles in all directions, the paper notes. The Samp/T also requires fewer operators, with the entire system able to run with as few as 15 people, compared to roughly 90 troops needed for a US Patriot battery, according to the WSJ. Ukrainian forces have reportedly expressed concerns about Samp/T's performance. Nevertheless, an Italian defense official told the paper that the system had received 'positive feedback' from Kiev. On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced 17 Patriots were 'ready to be shipped' to Ukraine, although his remark caused some confusion in Kiev as he did not clarify whether that number referred to full systems or their individual components. Trump has also insisted on a scheme in which European NATO members would purchase US weapons for Ukraine. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has welcomed his readiness to send Patriots but urged Washington 'to share the burden' for the deliveries. Russia has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, saying they only prolong the conflict without altering its outcome.
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
India calls out double standards after EU slaps sanctions on Moscow
India has firmly distanced itself from the European Union's latest round of sanctions targeting Russia and, indirectly, India's own energy interests. In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi 'does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures' and is a 'responsible actor' in the global energy sector. 'The Government of India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens. We would stress that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade,' the spokesperson asserted. The remarks came in light of Brussels' newly announced 18th package of sanctions targeting Moscow over the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The latest measures aim squarely at curbing revenues from the oil sector – including a new ban on the import of refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude oil. The measures also targeted India's second-largest private refinery – Nayara Energy's Vadinar facility in Gujarat. 'For the first time, we're designating a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on X. By imposing sanctions on India's flag registry, the official list of all the ships that fly a country's flags, the EU can punish any India-flagged ship for transporting Russian oil. The refinery, which processes up to 20 million tonnes annually, is owned by Nayara Energy, an Indo-Russian private company in which Rosneft holds a 49% stake. The consortium of companies led by Rosneft had acquired the refinery from India's Essar Group in 2017 for $12.9 billion – marking the biggest ever foreign investment in the sector. While Moscow has emerged as India's key oil supplier since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022 – accounting for nearly 40% of India's crude imports – New Delhi, in parallel, has become a major exporter of refined fuels to Europe since 2023. The EU is a significant buyer of Russian crude that is processed at the Vadinar refinery. The European Union's ban on fuels derived from Russian oil also poses a challenge to Reliance Industries – one of India's leading players in petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas exploration. Like Nayara, Reliance faces the risk of being excluded from the EU market, The Economic Times reported on Saturday, citing executives and analysts.
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Russia Today
Kremlin comments on rumors of Putin-Trump-Xi meeting
The Kremlin has nothing to say about a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming World War II commemoration in China, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The ceremony, marking the 80th anniversary of Tokyo's defeat in WWII, is expected to take place in Beijing in early September – and Putin has already accepted Xi's invitation to attend, when the Chinese leader was visiting Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations. 'We know nothing about the possibility of such a meeting,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS, responding to a report by the Times on Friday which claimed that Beijing is considering using the occasion to host a trilateral summit. Last month, Trump said President Xi had invited him and First Lady Melania Trump to visit China during what he described as a 'very good' phone call focused on trade. However, there has been no official confirmation of any specific date from Washington or Beijing. Analysts quoted by the Times suggested the anniversary could offer a symbolic platform for the three powers to engage in dialogue amid worsening global tensions. The British paper further claimed that Beijing 'tacitly encouraged speculation' on the subject by refusing to deny similar reports by Japan's Kyodo News last month. Chinese scholar Jin Canrong told Guancha that a joint appearance by Xi, Putin, and Trump at the military parade would 'send a powerful message to the world.' While Trump has publicly pushed for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict and reengaged with Russian leadership since returning to office in January, frustration has grown over stalled negotiations. On Monday, Trump threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners if no breakthrough is achieved within 50 days. Trump has also escalated a trade dispute with China, resulting in a tit-for-tat tariff standoff that peaked with 145% US duties on Chinese imports. Relations eased somewhat after a temporary deal was reached to reduce restrictions on key exports and freeze the tariffs at 30% and 10% respectively.
