Japan, South Korea leaders to strengthen cooperation with NATO

YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced they will strengthen cooperation with NATO and also agreed that North Korea's deepening ties with Russia are a “serious threat”, Kyodo reports.

They confirmed during a meeting in Washington that Japan and South Korea will strengthen cooperation with the United States, as well as NATO and Indo-Pacific partners, in view of regional issues becoming more complex and having wider implications, according to Japanese officials.

Besides, Yoon said North Korea's strengthening of military and economic cooperation with Russia following their signing of a comprehensive partnership treaty last month is causing "serious concerns for global security, not to mention East Asia," the report adds.

The accord, which includes a provision for mutual assistance if the other is attacked, was sealed when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years.

NATO’s 75-year anniversary summit kicked off in Washington on July 9. Delegates from all 32 member nations, as well as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Ukraine are participating in the three-day event.