Lavrov states US-guided drills form threat to peace in Asia

(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized US-led military activities near the Korean Peninsula, claiming they endanger regional stability. Speaking during a visit to North Korea, Lavrov said the joint drills involving the US, South Korea, and Japan — some of which include nuclear components — pose a threat not only to the Korean Peninsula but to all of Northeast Asia.

“These actions do not contribute to peace and stability,” Lavrov told reporters at a press conference in Wonsan on Saturday. He also expressed doubts about South Korea’s sincerity in wanting to improve relations with North Korea.

Lavrov condemned what he described as “dangerous attempts by actors outside the Indo-Pacific to establish exclusive alliances and expand NATO’s infrastructure in the region.” He emphasized that security arrangements should not come at the expense of other nations and reaffirmed that both Russia and North Korea support the principle of “equal and indivisible security” across Eurasia.

This week, the US, South Korea, and Japan held joint military exercises that involved deploying US nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bombers. The allies issued a joint statement accusing North Korea of engaging in “unlawful activities” that threaten stability on the Korean Peninsula.

In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a defense agreement. Later that year, North Korean troops were sent to assist Russian forces in expelling Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk Region. Lavrov described this cooperation as proof of the “invincible brotherhood” between Moscow and Pyongyang.

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