Latest news with #military cooperation
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kim renews North Korea's support for Russia over Ukraine, state media reports
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has reassured Russia of 'unconditional support' from Pyongyang to Moscow in its every effort to resolve the war in Ukraine, its state media reported on Sunday. Mr Kim's continued diplomatic help from North Korea came as he met with Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who was on a three-day visit to North Korea and described the two countries' relations as 'an invincible fighting brotherhood'. The two leaders met in North Korea's eastern coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, where both countries held their high-level strategic dialogue, for the second time this year, pledging mutual cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang under a partnership treaty signed last year. Russian media said Mr Lavrov also thanked the North Korean leader for the troops deployed to Russia. The Russian foreign minister also passed on a message from Putin to Mr Kim, hoping for more direct contacts in future, reported Tass news agency. Russia and North Korea have also signed a mutual defence treaty, which obliges them to immediately provide military assistance using 'all means' if either is attacked – marking the strongest military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. "Kim Jong Un reaffirmed that the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA said, using the acronym for North Korea's formal name. Mr Kim told the Russian foreign minister that the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported. Mr Lavrov also met his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan on Saturday where the two signed a joint statement offering support to safeguard each other's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Alienated on the world stage and facing crunching financial sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has extended its diplomatic ties with the hermit kingdom North Korea and sought military assistance in soldiers and ammunition. The ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have soared to their historic best during the last two years, with North Korea deploying more than 10,000 of its troops and arms to Russia to help with Vladimir Putin's invasion of its smaller neighbour. This comes as on Sunday, South Korean defence ministry's intelligence arm reported to the parliament that North continued to supply artillery ammunition to Russia and has so far shipped about 12 million rounds. In another display of their growing bilateral ties, North Korea last month agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region where Ukraine launched an audacious cross-border incursion in August.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Kim renews North Korea's support for Russia over Ukraine, state media reports
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has reassured Russia of 'unconditional support' from Pyongyang to Moscow in its every effort to resolve the war in Ukraine, its state media reported on Sunday. Mr Kim's continued diplomatic help from North Korea came as he met with Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who was on a three-day visit to North Korea and described the two countries' relations as 'an invincible fighting brotherhood'. The two leaders met in North Korea's eastern coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, where both countries held their high-level strategic dialogue, for the second time this year, pledging mutual cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang under a partnership treaty signed last year. Russian media said Mr Lavrov also thanked the North Korean leader for the troops deployed to Russia. The Russian foreign minister also passed on a message from Putin to Mr Kim, hoping for more direct contacts in future, reported Tass news agency. Russia and North Korea have also signed a mutual defence treaty, which obliges them to immediately provide military assistance using 'all means' if either is attacked – marking the strongest military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. "Kim Jong Un reaffirmed that the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA said, using the acronym for North Korea's formal name. Mr Kim told the Russian foreign minister that the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported. Mr Lavrov also met his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan on Saturday where the two signed a joint statement offering support to safeguard each other's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Alienated on the world stage and facing crunching financial sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has extended its diplomatic ties with the hermit kingdom North Korea and sought military assistance in soldiers and ammunition. The ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have soared to their historic best during the last two years, with North Korea deploying more than 10,000 of its troops and arms to Russia to help with Vladimir Putin 's invasion of its smaller neighbour. This comes as on Sunday, South Korean defence ministry's intelligence arm reported to the parliament that North continued to supply artillery ammunition to Russia and has so far shipped about 12 million rounds. In another display of their growing bilateral ties, North Korea last month agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region where Ukraine launched an audacious cross-border incursion in August.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Russia warns U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea
Russia's foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to North Korea's eastern Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui. Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second right, shakes hands with North Korean officials upon his arrival at an airport outside Pyongyang, North Korea, on Friday, July 11, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service / AP "We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia," he told reporters, according to Russia's state Tass news agency. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. The country has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons. "The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development," Lavrov said. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea "unconditionally" supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. She described ties between North Korea and Russia as "the invincible alliance." Lavrov said he repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, right, attend a signing ceremony following their talks in Wonsan, North Korea, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP) Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service / AP Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that "I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. But prospects for the biggest tourist complex in North Korea aren't clear, as the country appears unlikely to reopen its borders and fully embrace Western tourists anytime soon.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Russia warns US, South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea
Russia's foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to North Korea's eastern Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunitions to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea. 'We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,' he told reporters, according to Russia's state Tass news agency. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons. 'The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development,' Lavrov said. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. She described ties between North Korea and Russia as 'the invincible alliance.' Lavrov said he repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,' according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. But prospects for the biggest tourist complex in North Korea aren't clear, as the country appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. ___ Associated Press writer Elise Morton in Athens, Greece contributed to this report.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
UK and France agree nuclear weapons can be used in tandem to deter Russia
The UK and France have agreed to co-ordinate their nuclear deterrents, Sir Keir Starmer said, in a joint show of force against adversaries like Russia. The Prime Minister said there was 'no greater demonstration' of the importance of the UK-France relationship than the new initiative. The Northwood Declaration signed by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, means that Europe's two sovereign nuclear powers would mobilise their deterrent together if threatened. The Franco-British move is designed to act as a warning to Russia. It comes as US President Donald Trump has called on European allies to step up their contribution to Nato, and as the US tilts its influence away from Europe towards the Pacific. Sir Keir outlined a series of joint military ventures the UK and France would undertake together as he and the French president visited the UK's military headquarters, Northwood, in north-west London. The Prime Minister said: 'Now as Europe's only nuclear powers and as leaders in Nato, we play a vital role in preserving the peace and security on this continent. 'So today, we've updated the historic Lancaster House treaty to protect our people and our way of work. This is a major modernisation. 'We are overhauling combined joint expeditionary force to make it five times larger, 50,000 troops strong, able to act across every domain. 'But with going further, this morning, we signed the Northwood Declaration, confirming for the first time that we are co-ordinating our independent nuclear deterrents. 'From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations.' He said of the Northwood Declaration: 'There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship, and while we stand together for our collective defence, we must also deliver a defence dividend for working people so we've agreed a deeper industrial partnership today to bring our defence industries closer than ever before.' Alongside the new nuclear pact, and refreshed joint force, France and Britain have both pledged to replenish their stocks of Storm Shadow missiles. Both countries have gifted the long-range weapons to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory. The two nations also plan to work more closely on developing a successor Storm Shadow.
