South Korea is wary of the risk of North Korea being equipped with military technology from Russia

(Dan Tri) – South Korea is increasingly concerned about the possibility of Russia transferring advanced military technology to North Korea and this will significantly increase the `existential threats` the country faces.

President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 13 (Photo: AFP).

`If Russia transfers highly sensitive military technologies to North Korea, such as atmospheric re-entry technology for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), satellite launch vehicles, warplanes,

According to him, in that case, it is very likely that South Korea will take `carefully calibrated measures` to deal with such `existential threats.`

This comment was made after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Russian Far East in early September and President Vladimir Putin accepted an invitation to visit Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-un also visited military sites and saw some of Russia’s advanced weapons systems such as nuclear bombers, fighter jets and hypersonic missiles.

According to Pyongyang’s KCNA news agency, the North Korean leader offered `full and unconditional support` to the Russian side, as he and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed expanding `coordination.`

Analysts say that leader Kim Jong-un may provide ammunition to Russia in return for Moscow’s technology to modernize Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Knevichi airport near Vladivostok on September 16 (Photo: AFP).

Leif-Eric Easley, Associate Professor of International Studies at Ewha University, said that even if President Putin `responds` with a visit to North Korea, Russia will certainly still be very cautious in transferring military technology.

`South Korea can sell much better weapons to support Ukraine in its defense strategy than North Korea’s Cold War-era artillery, which can only partially supply Russia,` he said.

He said Russia – a member of the United Nations Security Council – has helped Pyongyang by refusing to enforce sanctions against North Korea.

Russia and North Korea are important partners for China, both as important neighbors and as balancing partners against the United States.

US and South Korean officials warned that Russia and North Korea will face serious consequences if they continue to carry out arms transfer agreements that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.

But in reality, South Korea lacks coercive measures to punish Russia or North Korea over arms transactions, said political science professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of Korean Studies.

`South Korea could increase military exercises with the US and Japan, tighten sanctions on North Korean officials and government agencies, or seek to further isolate Pyongyang at the United Nations,`

`However, these are still basically the same old dishes,` the professor said, adding that to supply weapons to Ukraine or any other warring country, South Korea would have to gain approval.

Seoul has a policy of not providing lethal weapons to any country in conflict, while Russia has repeatedly warned that Seoul’s relationship with Moscow would be in danger if it provided weapons to Ukraine.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin this month summoned Russia’s ambassador to Seoul and called on Moscow to immediately stop military cooperation with North Korea, which he said would have `a very negative impact.`

South Korean Ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong said earlier this week that the apparent strengthening of cooperation between Russia and North Korea was `most worrying`, emphasizing that Seoul and Washington would `not sit idly by`.

In response, North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song said his country urgently needed to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and declared that the Korean peninsula faced `the immediate risk of nuclear war.`