PAJU, South Korea – Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the security pact between Russia and North Korea on July 30, stating that it destabilizes the region and violates UN Security Council resolutions. Wong’s remarks followed her visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.
“We see Russia behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory,” Wong said, referencing the agreement signed in June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The pact commits both nations to provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.
The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has raised alarms in Washington and among its allies, who accuse both nations of violating international laws by trading weapons for use in the conflict against Ukraine. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied any arms transactions.
“The continued transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions,” Wong emphasized.
Wong is scheduled to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul later on July 30 to discuss North Korea and bilateral cooperation for regional peace. She arrived in Seoul after attending summits in Laos with the ASEAN bloc and a meeting of Quad foreign ministers in Tokyo with counterparts from the United States, Japan, and India.
In a statement ahead of her trip, Wong highlighted the strategic alignment between Australia and South Korea, aiming for expanded bilateral and regional cooperation, including on energy transition and economic security.