Japan’s FM visits Kyiv amid rising North Korea-Russia military ties Talks covered further sanctions on Moscow

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, arrived in Kyiv on November 16 for discussions focused on North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia, which includes the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to assist Moscow in its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Iwaya met with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to reaffirm Japan’s "strong support" for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, Caliber.Az reports via Japanese media. 

The talks covered additional sanctions against Moscow. According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, a significant part of the agenda is the growing military alliance between Russia and North Korea, which has raised concerns in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, US, South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence sources report that as many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia as part of a bilateral defence pact between the two nations. Last week, Ukrainian officials revealed that Ukrainian forces had clashed with North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive on August 6.

Sybiha told reporters that Ukraine’s intelligence agencies believe that North Korea is assisting Russia's invasion in exchange for access to Russian missile, nuclear, and other military technology.

"The deepening military-technical cooperation between Russia, North Korea, and Iran represents a direct threat not only to Europe but also to Southeast Asia and the Middle East," Sybiha remarked during a joint press conference with Iwaya.

He added that only sustained and robust support for Ukraine could prevent Russia from achieving its objectives, emphasising that such backing is crucial for securing "a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace."

The discussion also touched on Japan’s potential role in advancing Ukraine’s "victory plan and peace formula." This comes as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the war in 2024, despite the challenges. In an interview with Ukrainian Radio, Zelenskyy expressed his determination to secure peace through diplomatic channels next year, although he cautioned that the recent willingness of Russian officials to engage in talks may not necessarily indicate a genuine desire to end the conflict.

Zelenskyy also pointed out that increased dialogue with Russia could serve to diminish the political isolation Moscow has faced since the start of the war.

“I don’t think Putin wants peace at all,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to sit down with world leaders.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev