Blinken thanks South Korea for continued support of Ukraine

That’s according to the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, Ukrinform reports.

"The Secretary condemned deepening military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including ongoing arms transfers that violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and reaffirmed the vital importance of the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance in promoting peace, security, and prosperity around the world," the spokesman said.

According to Miller, the U.S. top diplomat thanked his counterpart for South Korea's continued support of Ukraine.

The parties also agreed to continue joint work on addressing the "complex and evolving security challenges" posed by the DPRK, as well as on supporting peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the readout.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin signed in Pyongyang an agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership, raising bilateral relations to the level of allies.

A series of sanctions introduced over the years by the UN Security Council, including those signed by Russia, prohibits trade in arms and some other goods with North Korea. In defiance of sanctions, North Korea supplies Russia with artillery shells and ballistic missiles for the war against Ukraine.

South Korea's foreign minister is currently in New York, participating in high-level events at the UN Security Council, which the country will chair in June.

Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg