US envoy calls alleged North Korea, Russia weapons delivery dangerous
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome on Sept 13.
PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA/SEOUL – Mr Sung Kim, the US special representative for North Korea, on Tuesday criticised relations between North Korea and Russia as “very worrying”, after the White House said last week
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Jakarta, Mr Kim called weapons deliveries between the two countries “dangerous” and “destabilising”, and reaffirmed US commitment to protect its allies.
“At the same time, we will continue our work to counter the DPRK’s unlawful WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missiles,” Mr Kim told a briefing. DPRK is the initials of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The meeting took place days after a new accusation by the United States that North Korea recently provided Russia with a large shipment of weapons, which it said was an indication of expanded military relationship between the two countries.
The White House showed a series of satellite images it said indicate cargo from an ammunition depot in North Korea was loaded on to a Russian-flagged ship, and taken by rail to a depot near Russia’s south-western border.
The delivery took place between Sept 7 and Oct 1, the US said.
The Kremlin had earlier on Tuesday denied the allegations, saying they were not based on evidence, reported the TASS news agency.
“They report about it all the time – they don’t provide any evidence,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.
Russia would continue to build its relations with North Korea, he added.
“This is our sovereign right, and we do not think that anyone has the right to meddle in this,” Mr Peskov said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare trip to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin in September, fanning concerns they could shore up Russia’s military in Ukraine while North Korea obtains missile technology banned under United Nations’ resolutions.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit North Korea this week, according to North Korea’s state media KCNA and Russia’s Foreign Ministry. REUTERS
