[Seoul Yonhap News]Amid deepening diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Russia, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko (in charge of the Asia-Pacific region) visited South Korea on the 2nd and held a series of meetings with high-ranking officials from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The department reported on the 4th.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko = (TASS = Yonhap News)
Rudenko met with Kim Hong-gyun, first vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also spoke with Jeong Byeong-won, assistant minister of the same ministry. They discussed international issues such as the war in Ukraine as well as pending issues between the two countries.
South Korea expressed a harsh view of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and urged Russia to take responsible actions. He also asked for cooperation to ensure that the rights and interests of Korean citizens and Korean companies in Russia are not infringed upon.
Kim Gon, head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiations Headquarters, who is in charge of North Korea issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also held talks with Rudenko. Mr. Kim conveyed the South Korean government’s stance of strictly opposing military cooperation with Russia and North Korea, which threatens the security of the Korean Peninsula and Europe, and called on Russia to comply with its obligations set out in United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Rudenko’s visit to South Korea is attracting attention because it took place on the same day that the media reported that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized President Yun Seok-Yeol’s comments regarding North Korea.
At the Central Integrated Defense Council on the 31st of last month, President Yun said of the North Korean regime, “The only irrational group in the world that has legislated the first use of nuclear weapons.” Regarding this, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on the 2nd that Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zakharova criticized President Yoon’s remarks as “blatant bias.”
On the 3rd, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador to South Korea Zinoviev to protest over Spokesperson Zakharova’s remarks. The department told Zinoviev, “It is extremely regrettable that, while turning his back on the truth, he unconditionally defended the North and criticized the remarks of the leader of a country with disrespectful words.” This kind of behavior is a violation of South Korea, Russia, and Russia. He stressed that this would only worsen relations.
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2024-02-04 06:01:57
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