A visit to South Korea and Japan by the head of NATO this week highlights the alliance’s strategic priority to push back against China and North Korea, while addressing the global impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg began a four-day trip to South Korea and Japan over the weekend, addressing military threats from China and North Korea, while seeking to deepen the alliance’s political ties with its top Asian allies.
Stoltenberg kicked off his trip in South Korea on Sunday and was received by top South Korean officials in Seoul. During his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, Stoltenberg addressed North Korea’s “reckless” nuclear and missile programs. Stoltenberg also said he believes North Korea is helping Russia in its war on Ukraine, and added this highlights how Europe and Asia are “interconnected.” Both North Korea and Russia have denied that Pyongyang is providing any assistance.
The NATO chief also urged the South Korea to “step up on the issue of military support” for Ukraine and urged Seoul to green-light direct arms exports and reverse a rule on sending weapons to conflict zones.
South Korea has been supporting Ukraine with non-lethal aid. It has also signed arms deals to provide tanks and fighter aircraft to NATO member Poland. However, the South Korean president has reiterated that it is against his country’s policy to provide arms to countries in conflict. […]
“We need to address these global threats and challenges, including the challenges coming from China, and one way of doing that is, of course, to work more closely with partners in the region,” he told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency in a separate interview. […]
Jim Townsend, US deputy assistant defense secretary for Europe and NATO under former President Barack Obama: “These visits also signify unity because it shows that NATO and Asia are willing to work together. This trip signals a stronger partnership seeking to deal with China, North Korea and Russia’s influence in Asia,” he added. Läs artikel