The file photo, taken on June 1, 2024, shows South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun (R) with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell during a press conference ahead of his trilateral meeting with Japan, in Washington, USA. (Photo by the press corps. Resale and archiving prohibited)
SEOUL, June 14 (Yonhap) — South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun spoke by phone Friday with U.S. Undersecretary of State Kurt Campell to discuss a possible imminent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Koreasaid the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
The telephone conversation took place as Putin is widely expected to visit Pyongyang early next week for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while the South Korean presidential office confirmed that the trip is likely to take place within “a few days.”
In telephone talks Friday, Campbell said the U.S. “fully supports” South Korea’s position that Putin’s visit should not result in a “further deepening of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, way that undermines regional peace and stability, in violation of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions,” according to the South Korean ministry.
The two sides agreed to continue “foolproof” coordination and take “severe response measures” against North Korean provocations aimed at South Korea and against any acts that raise tensions in the region.
They also shared assessments on the completion of the joint guidelines on extended deterrence, in their last meeting of the Nuclear Advisory Group (NCG) earlier this week.
The allies announced the document of guidelines on ways to respond in case of a nuclear attack from the North. Extended deterrence refers to the US commitment to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend an ally.
According to the ministry, the two sides agreed that the guidelines “will establish a solid foundation for strengthening the integrated extended deterrence” against North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.
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