DPRK rebukes S. Korean President for criticizing Moscow cooperation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Sep 2023 22:04

Yoon had raised concerns at the UN General Assembly, suggesting that if Russia aided the DPRK's weapons programs in exchange for assistance in the Ukraine conflict, it would be a provocation.

Flags of Russia and North Korea are seen in front of the central railway station in Vladivostok, Russia, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 (AP)

State-owned news agency KCNA said in a commentary on Monday that the DPRK criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his comments on their cooperation with Moscow following Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia - so much so that the South Korean head of State was referred to as "an individual with a brain resembling trash" and was labeled as "diplomatically unwise."

Yoon had raised concerns at the UN General Assembly, suggesting that if Russia aided the DPRK's weapons programs in exchange for assistance in the Ukraine conflict, it would be a provocation.

The DPRK denounced Yoon for slandering their collaboration with Russia and accused him of acting as a "loudspeaker" for the US.

"It is quite natural and normal for neighboring countries to keep close relations with each other, and there is no reason to call such practice to account," the commentary read.

They defended the idea of neighboring countries maintaining close relations and emphasized that their foreign policy would not be constrained, pledging to strengthen ties with their neighbors.

"The foreign policy of the DPRK ... will not be tied to anything, and its friendly and cooperative relations with the close neighbors will continue to grow stronger," the commentary said.

The meeting between the two leaders drew criticism from the West, especially in terms of a potential supply of weaponry to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The West also condemned the meeting as an act of desperation by Putin.

Yet, the impact of this meeting does have various consequences on the Western circle, such as demonstrating diplomacy and forging relationships between themselves, as well as showing how leaders who have faced condemnation by the West still manage to maintain positions of power within their country.

During Kim's tour of Russia's Far East, which began on September 12 and included a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the DPRK leader inspected everything from Russian space rockets to submarines.

His six-day visit also included a symbolic exchange of rifles with Putin, with Kim declaring that bilateral ties with Russia were his "number one priority." He also invited the Russian leader to visit Pyongyang, which Putin accepted.