NATO chief says Russia supports North Korea’s nuclear program

This article was originally published in English

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that “we should not be naive” regarding the Kremlin’s support for Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

“There is every reason to assert that nuclear technology and missile technology are flowing into North Korea,” he told reporters in Brussels, adding that the nuclear risk “poses not only a threat to us here, but also to the American continent and, of course, to the region.”

The NATO chief spoke after foreign ministers from 32 member countries met in Brussels, where discussions on continued support for Ukraine topped their agenda.

The meeting will likely be the last high-level NATO meeting attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken before the Biden administration leaves office next month.

According to the US State Department, Antony Blinken wants to strengthen allies’ support for Kiyv before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

NATO is also under pressure from Ukraine to accept its integration into the Alliance. A necessary gesture, according to Volodymyr Zelensky “to survival” of his country.

Mark Rutte was content to remain evasive on the subject, which is not unanimous among member countries: Germany, Hungary or the United States are not in favor of it.

For its part, Moscow recalled on Tuesday that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would be “unacceptable”.

Mark Rutte spoke with the president-elect in Florida, at his Mar-a-Lago residence. China, North Korea and Iran would support Russia, according to the NATO chief, which would endanger the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.

“Whenever we reach an agreement on Ukraine, it will have to be a good agreement, because we can never just congratulate Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping and whoever else,” Mark Rutte said in Brussels on Wednesday, adding that this would only encourage the leaders of North Korea and China to approve the use of force elsewhere.

Asked about Moscow’s nuclear threats, Mark Rutte said that “Russia wants us to discuss its nuclear capability. We don’t want to spend time on it. We need to make sure our deterrence is strong, and it is. We can retaliate against any adversary, any enemy who tries to harm us.”.

Russia’s alleged support for Pyongyang’s nuclear program, as well as the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine, demands broader collaboration between NATO and countries outside the alliance .

Mark Rutte described NATO-South Korea relations as “solid”as growing tensions have been reported within the country’s governance.

President Yoon Suk-yeoul is facing impeachment after attempting to impose martial law, a move that was quickly halted by mass protests and political opposition from lawmakers.

“I believe the announcement of the end of martial law demonstrates South Korea’s continued commitment to the rule of law”said Mark Rutte.

“South Korea is a strong supporter of Ukraine and I expect it to remain so. Our partnership with Seoul has deepened as global threats have increased over the past two years” , he concluded.