Goyang: The deputy secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) called Monday for further strengthening ties with South Korea through "practical" cooperation, especially in the arms industry, to better deal with common security concerns such as North Korea's deepening alignment with Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the remarks by Radmila Shekerinska came as North Korea and Russia continue to expand military cooperation, following the signing of a mutual defense pact last year, while seeking to flaunt their solidarity also with China. The state leaders and senior officials of the three countries stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the recent back-to-back military parades in Beijing and Pyongyang.
Shekerinska emphasized the interconnection between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, highlighting the importance of alliances in maintaining peace and stability. "What happens in the Euro-Atlantic influences the Indo-Pacific and vice versa," she said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The NATO official expressed concerns over the growing military alignment between North Korea and Russia, marked by the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Russia's military technology transfer to North Korea, and the North's continued weapons development. Shekerinska described this as a "worrying picture" that raises concerns about the prospects for peace in the Korean Peninsula and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Focusing on practical cooperation, Shekerinska identified the arms industry as a key area for developing a meaningful partnership with South Korea. She stressed the need for partnerships based on shared values and practical cooperation, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence in warfare, space, land, and munitions.
Addressing the idea of an Asian version of NATO, Shekerinska noted that the decision would rest with the countries involved, but emphasized the importance of a joint sense of threat and continued investment in deterrence.
In line with NATO's commitment to defense, Shekerinska mentioned that at an annual alliance summit held in The Hague in June, NATO leaders agreed to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product over the next decade, up from the current 2 percent.
During her three-day visit to South Korea, Shekerinska is expected to meet with top security officials and the chief executives of major defense firms. Her itinerary also includes a visit to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.