President: South Korea "will not stand idly by" if North Korea receives Russian help

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Septmeber 20, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country, together with its allies, "will not stand idly by" if North Korea receives Russian help to enhance its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities.

"While military strength may vary among countries, by uniting in unwavering solidarity and steadfastly adhering to our principles, we can deter any unlawful provocation," Yoon said, according to CNN.

Yoon also called upon reform to the UN Security Council, saying it "would receive a broad support" if Russia was supplying North Korea with information in exchange for weapons.

"It is paradoxical that a permanent member of the UN Security Council, entrusted as the ultimate guardian of world peace, would wage war by invading another sovereign nation and receive arms and ammunition from a regime that blatantly violates UN Security Council resolutions," Yoon stated. 

"In such a situation, the call to reform the UN Security Council would receive a broad support. And if the DPRK acquires the information and technology necessary to enhance its WMD capabilities in exchange for supporting Russia with conventional weapons, the deal will be a direct provocation, threatening the peace and security of not only Ukraine, but also the Republic of Korea," the president added.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travelled to Russia and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim offered his support for Putin after their talks, saying “I will always be standing with Russia,” and appeared to endorse Moscow’s war on Ukraine. Putin described their discussions as “very substantive.”