The United States' fear of North Korea: They were disturbed by the critical agreement made with Russia.

The U.S. Secretary of State expressed concerns about the increasing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, stating that Russia would provide advanced space and satellite technologies to North Korea in exchange for weapons and equipment support.

According to a report by the Seoul-based Yonhap agency, Blinken met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during his visit to the capital, Seoul.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Blinken stated that they find the recent increase in military cooperation between North Korea and Russia "worrisome."

Blinken noted that Russia wants to provide advanced space and satellite technology in exchange for weapons and equipment support from Pyongyang, saying, "We have reasons to believe that Putin may be close to reversing Russia's decades-long policy and accepting North Korea's nuclear weapons program."

Stating that this concern is also a major focal point for South Korea and Japan, Blinken emphasized the importance of the trilateral security cooperation established with the U.S. in Tokyo and Seoul.

Blinken said that the Washington-Seoul alliance is the "cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity" in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific regions.

It is estimated that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been dispatched to the front lines in Russia to fight against Ukraine alongside Russian forces.

RELATIONS BETWEEN MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed between Moscow and Pyongyang in June 2024 came into effect in December 2024.

It was stated that this agreement envisages mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on one of the parties and would contribute to the construction of an indivisible security system in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a multipolar world order.