Russia might provide space technology to North Korea: Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Monday.

Yonhap NK fires ballistic missile as top South Korean, US diplomats hold farewell luncheon By Lee Hyo-jin U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested Monday that Moscow might be planning to share advanced space and satellite technology with North Korea.



This development, if true, could aid the isolated regime in advancing its goal of deploying multiple spy satellites to monitor its adversaries. The remarks were made during a joint press conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul, marking Blinken’s final official visit to South Korea as the Joe Biden administration prepares to hand over power to U.S President-elect Donald Trump on Jan.

20. “The DPRK has already received Russian military equipment and training. Now we have reasons to believe that Moscow intends to share advanced space and satellite technology with Pyongyang.

Putin may be close to reversing its decades-long policy by accepting the DPRK's nuclear weapon programs," Blinken said, using the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. These concerns follow accusations that North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 troops to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. South Korea’s intelligence agency estimates that around 100 of these troops have been killed and 1,000 injured.

A TV screen at Seoul Station shows a news report about North Korea's launch of a suspected hypersonic missile into the East Sea, Monday, marking its first military provocation this year. The missile launch occurred two weeks before U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. It also coincided with a luncheon meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and U.

S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Seoul. Yonhap Cho, for his part, said the two sides will continue to cooperate in deterring North Korea's illegal military activites.

"We had an in-depth exchange of views on North Korea's nuclear issue and the illicit military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. We agreed on the importance of efforts to enforce U.N.

Security Council sanctions against North Korea and to expose its sanctions evasion activities in order to advance the goal of denuclearization," the foreign minister said. The top diplomats also condemned North Korea’s latest missile provocation, which occurred during their meeting. According to South Korea’s military, Pyongyang launched a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea around noon, coinciding with the ministers' luncheon.

“We condemn the DPRK’s missile launch today, yet another violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Blinken said.

Cho echoed the condemnation, saying, “We have pledged to thoroughly prepare for any potential provocations and respond through a robust combined defense posture and strengthened extended deterrence." President Yoon Suk Yeol holds up an acoustic guitar signed by Don McClean as U.S.

President Joe Biden hosts the State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, April 26, 2023. UPI-Yonhap Meanwhile, the two sides also reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral alliance amid political turbulence in Seoul and an impending leadership change in Washington. “I believe that the more challenging the situation, the more essential it is to maintain our diplomatic goals.

Together with our value-based ally, the United States, we will continue to move forward in a steadfast manner," Cho said. “Even under a new Trump administration, we will pursue solidarity rooted in shared values, closely coordinating all policies and actions." The South Korean foreign minister remarked that President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected martial law declaration on December 3 last year, along with the resulting political fallout, highlight both the challenges and resilience of the nation's democracy.

He assured that South Korea will work to restore international trust, drawing on its enduring democratic values and the maturity of its citizens. Blinken said the U.S.

had expressed serious concerns regarding Yoon's brief imposition of martial law but praised South Korea's response to the crisis, highlighting that it adhered to Constitutional principles and the rule of law. “Our relationship is bigger than any one leader, any one government, any one party,” he said. “The security challenges we face, the economic opportunities we share — all of these shared challenges and opportunities will continue to bring us closer together.

The U.S. has full confidence in South Korea’s institutions, and we reaffirm our unwavering support for the Korean people as they work tirelessly to uphold those institutions.

" Blinken’s visit was the first one by a senior U.S. official since Yoon's martial law bid that led to his impeachment by the National Assembly on Dec.

14. The South Korean leader's attempt to put the country under emergency military rule stunned Washington officials, who had been championing Seoul as Asia's leading democracy. The leadership vacuum in South Korea has raised concerns about the nation's ability to navigate the uncertainties surrounding Trump's potential return to the White House.

In this context, the Cho-Blinken farewell meeting, along with two prior phone calls in December, underscore Seoul's ongoing efforts to fine-tune its alliance with the U.S. amid political instability.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting in Seoul, Monday.

Joint Press Corps Before the luncheon with Cho, Blinken met with Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as deputy prime minister and finance minister. During the meeting, the acting president underscored the strength of the South Korea-U.S.

alliance, while Blinken expressed confidence in the South’s democracy and Choi’s leadership. Choi has been serving as interim leader since Dec. 27, following the National Assembly’s impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the suspension of his duties.

This came after Yoon’s impeachment on Dec. 14..