SEOUL (Reuters) – United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a North Korean missile test carried out during his visit to Seoul on Monday (06) was a reminder of the need to deepen Washington’s cooperation with and Japan to stop Pyongyang.
A fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile around noon local time, which flew more than 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) east before crashing into the sea, according to South Korea’s military.
Speaking a few hours later, Blinken said at a news conference that the launch underscored the importance of collaboration between the US, South Korea and Japan, including sharing real-time missile data and holding trilateral military exercises.
“Today’s launch is just a reminder to all of us of the importance of our collaborative work,” he said.
Blinken also warned about North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia. He said Washington believes Russia intends to share space and satellite technology with North Korea in exchange for its support for the Ukraine war, in which more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured.
US President Joe Biden, who leaves office this month, has made progress in deepening trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan despite historical issues that have often strained relations between the Asian neighbors.
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But political turmoil in South Korea, along with the impending return of Donald Trump’s unpredictable administration in the United States, has raised doubts about whether these efforts can be sustained.
Last month, South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol and remove him from office after his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law left the country stunned. Yoon’s impeachment trial is being heard by the Constitutional Court.
If Yoon is permanently removed from office, a presidential election will be called and liberals – seen as the likely winners of that race – have criticized Yoon’s efforts to form partnerships with Tokyo.
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Blinken, who also met Monday with South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, said at the news conference that while Washington has “serious concerns” about Yoon’s actions, it has confidence in the country’s institutions. and democratic resistance.
