Australia's Wong condemns military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as destabilizing

(30 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paju, South Korea - 30 July 2024
1. Various of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arriving at the JSA (Joint Security Area) Visitors Center near the border village of Panmunjom and greeting United Nations Command officers
2. Various of Wong listening to UN Command officer
3. Wide of Wong walking to podium
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister:
++PART COVERED BY SHOTS 3 AND 5++
”We share our grave concerns about DPRK’s (North Korea's) escalatory reactions, destabilizing actions. We continue alongside the international community to condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, which threaten our security, the security of our friends and partners, including South Korea and Japan.”
5.Wong speaking to UN Command officers
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister:
++PART COVERED BY SHOTS 5 AND 7++
“I also want to say something about the security pact between North Korea and Russia. And say again, this is destabilizing, this is risky for the world. And again we see Russia behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory."
7. Wong speaking to UN Command officers, shaking their hands
STORYLINE:
Australia’s foreign minister said Tuesday the recent defense deal between North Korea and Russia was “destabilizing” and “risky for the world,” after she visited the tense border village shared by North and South Korea on Tuesday.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, deepening worries about the expanding ties between the countries.
The U.S. and its partners have steadfastly accused North Korea of supplying much-needed conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance.
“I also want to say something about the security pact between North Korea and Russia. And say again, this is destabilizing. This is risky for the world and again we say Russia is behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters following a visit to the southern side of the Korean border village of Panmunjom.
Wang condemned North Korea’s extended run of missile tests that she said threaten regional security.
“We share great concerns about DPRK’s escalatory reactions, destabilizing actions,” she said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Also Tuesday, Wang met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul and agreed to work together with the international community to cope with the North Korean-Russian military partnerships.
The two also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic security, climate change and other areas, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been running high in recent months, with North Korea flying trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea and continuing weapons tests.
South Korea has responded by resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and live-fire drills at border areas.
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