US, Japan, South Korea Denounce North Korea’s Transfer of Arms to Russia

Liberal democratic governments in the Pacific are keeping an eye out for signs of arms trade between North Korea and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd left) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (4th left) visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in the Amur region of Russia, on Sept. 13, 2023. Mikhail Metzel/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The United States, Japan, and South Korea have strongly criticized North Korea for facilitating the provision of weapons to Russia, aiding its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin confirmed several cases of weapons provision by North Korea to Russia for use in Ukraine.