South Korea, Britain condemn North Korea's dispatch of troops in joint statement
Published: 22 Oct. 2024, 17:39
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- SEO JI-EUN
- [email protected]
![South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hold a strategic dialogue at the Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/22/3219b7dd-ad25-46df-bb9c-69465fbf4e6d.jpg)
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hold a strategic dialogue at the Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]
South Korea and Britain “condemned in the strongest terms” North Korea's alleged deployment of troops to aid Russia in Ukraine, as well as its illegal arms trade with Moscow, in a joint statement their top diplomats issued Tuesday.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued unlawful arms transfers and the reported deployment of its troops to the Russian Federation to support Russia's unlawful war of aggression in Ukraine,” South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a joint statement released after their strategic talks in Seoul on Monday, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The two ministers stressed their intention to closely monitor any potential exchanges between Russia and North Korea, particularly of arms and military personnel. They also raised concerns over the possibility of nuclear or ballistic missile technology transfers, which they said would undermine global nonproliferation efforts and threaten stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
Highlighting the interconnected security concerns of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, Cho and Lammy vowed to work closely with the international community to deter destabilizing actions by North Korea and Russia.
The diplomats also reaffirmed their countries' commitment to strengthening their “strategic partnership” in areas ranging from security and the economy to climate change, green energy, science and technology in alignment with the Downing Street Accord signed last year.
Both sides agreed to continue high-level exchanges, including a planned “two plus two” meeting of foreign and defense ministers in early 2025.
The same day, the British foreign secretary participated in a panel regarding climate, nature and development at Ewha Womans University in western Seoul. The secretary discussed his country's policy priorities and explored ways in which the two nations might further collaborate.
BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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