Washington: South Korea and the United States have agreed to collaborate closely in order to continue unveiling Russia’s support for North Korea. This decision was made public through a joint statement following “two plus two” talks between the defense and foreign ministers of both nations held in Washington.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the discussions took place amid rising tensions, with the United States reporting the deployment of up to 8,000 North Korean soldiers to the western front in Russia, who are anticipated to partake in combat soon. This development occurred shortly after North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, perceived as an attempt to escalate tensions and bolster its stance ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections.

The joint statement highlighted that both nations identified measures to address the challenges posed by the increasing security collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang. They agreed to closely monitor and disclose Russian support for
North Korea, as stated in the official communication from the meeting.

The ministers from South Korea and the United States condemned North Korea’s missile test and reiterated their appeal for Pyongyang to cease its provocations. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a point notably absent in the allies’ annual defense talks joint statement.

The omission of North Korea’s denuclearization in the policy platforms of both the Republican and Democratic parties has raised questions about whether the United States intends to shift its focus towards recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state and deterring its threats, rather than advocating for complete denuclearization.