S. Korea voices regret over China, Russia defending N. Korea in joint statement
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, May 9 (Yonhap) — South Korea expressed regret Friday over China and Russia’s defense of North Korea in a joint leaders’ statement despite its nuclear ambitions, urging them to “persistently” press Pyongyang to return to denuclearization talks.
In the joint statement issued after the summit in Moscow between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the two countries called on “relevant countries to abandon policies of unilateral coercive measures and pressure” against the North, and stop the trend of “militarizing Northeast Asia,” according to Russian media reports.
The “relevant” countries appeared to refer to the United States and its allies, such as South Korea, and by “coercive measures,” they likely meant the U.N. sanctions imposed on the recalcitrant regime.
“We express regret that the recent joint statement by China and Russia made no mention of North Korea’s unlawful nuclear development provocations. Instead, it appeared to defend North Korea and unfairly shift the blame for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” Seoul’s foreign ministry said.
This Reuters photo captures Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping attending a flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Russia’s Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in Moscow on May 9, 2025. (Yonhap)
“At this critical juncture, it is incumbent upon China and Russia to take responsible action by persistently convincing and pressuring North Korea to cease its unlawful pursuit of nuclear weapons and military provocation, and to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy in the interest of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” it said.
Citing a separate joint statement on nonproliferation, issued by the two countries on the same day, the ministry urged them to join the international efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
In the statement on “global strategic stability,” China and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the international nonproliferation regime under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and underscored the importance of “guaranteeing the integrity, effectiveness and universality” of the NPT.
“North Korea has unilaterally declared its withdrawal from the NPT, developed nuclear weapons and threatened to exponentially increase its nuclear arsenal, thereby shaking the foundation of the NPT regime,” the ministry said.
“In light of this, we urge China and Russia to sincerely joint the international community’s efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea and uphold the global nonproliferation regime,” it said.
elly@yna.co.kr
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