US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said today that he shares South Korea’s concerns about increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin also discussed cooperation between them in implementing the so-called extended strategic deterrence to counter threats from North Korea and further strategic cooperation with Japan.

Blinken’s two-day visit to South Korea is the first by a US secretary of state in two and a half years and is part of his broader tour of Asia that will also include a stop in India. Before visiting Japan he was in the Middle East.

“In terms of Russia’s possible support for the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name) that is something we are watching very, very closely,” Blinken told a news conference in the South Korean capital. .

“We have real concerns about any support for the ballistic missile programs of North Korea, for the its nuclear technologyfor the launch capabilities at space», he stated. “We are working … to identify, uncover and properly address these efforts.”

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The US, South Korea and Japan have condemned what they say is a flow of weapons and military equipment from North Korea to Russia, saying cargo transfers from the isolated state to Russia are proof of that. North Korea and Russia have denied any arms deals, although their leaders pledged closer military cooperation when they met in September in the Russian Far East.

Blinken described this relationship as “two-way.” North Korea offers military equipment to Russia to use in its war with Ukraine while Russia in turn offers technical support to help North Korea make military progresshe stated.

Blinken arrived in South Korea yesterday from Japan. He also said the US and its allies in East Asia are stepping up cooperation on North Korea, which is developing its nuclear weapons and missiles, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

“Already the three countries receive us meters to enhance our joint response through real-time sharing of missile warning data, trilateral defense exercises and efforts to counter the DPRK’s malicious cyber activities,” said Blinken.

Park said China has a constructive role to play in dealing with tensions between North Korea and Russia, saying they are not in Beijing’s interest.

Park also said after his meeting with Blinken that the two foreign ministers are calling on North Korea to cancel its plan to launch a spy satellite. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after failing twice this year to put one into orbit. South Korea said last week that North Korea is in the final stages of preparing for a launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia.

The war between Israel and Hamas was also discussed during Blinken’s meetings with high-ranking South Korean officials today, most notably President Suk-yeol. The head of American diplomacy thanked him for the “commitment of the Republic of Korea to provide humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Gaza.”

Earlier today, he met with National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, hailing Seoul’s commitment to help Ukraine. The two officials condemned Pyongyang’s shipment of weapons to Russia to support its war effort.