The head of strategic planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff called for “close coordination” among the international community against threats stemming from North Korea’s military support to Russia at a recent NATO meeting.
The JCS said Friday that Lt. Gen. Son Jeong-hwan, head of strategic planning for the South Korean military, explained to top military officials around the world, that “North Korea’s recent military support to Russia and missile launch provocations are becoming a big threat to the international community.” To deter the threat growing “beyond the Korean Peninsula,” Son emphasized the “need for close coordination and response with the international community” during the two-day session of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense held in Brussels from Wednesday to Thursday.
Son’s remarks came amid growing concerns over the developing military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Pyongyang has deployed about 11,000 soldiers to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine since October last year, according to the South’s presidential office.
On Jan. 6, North Korea fired what it claims was a new hypersonic ballistic missile with advanced capabilities. A JCS official said “there is a possibility” that Pyongyang has been receiving technological support from Moscow in developing its missile program.
Besides calling for cooperation against North Korean threats, Kim highlighted the “stable security situation” on the Korean Peninsula, according to the JCS. The international community has expressed concerns about the political turmoil in the South following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on Dec. 3.
Son shared assessments of the security situation on the peninsula with Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, and other top military officials of other Indo-Pacific Partners, such as Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The officials agreed on the need for continued communication and expansion of partnerships to maintain a rule-based international order.
Son attended the session in Brussels earlier this week on behalf of JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo. This marked the 10th time since 2010 that South Korea has attended the session as the alliance’s Indo-Pacific partner.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
