European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed on Monday the EU's concern over the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea which "could embolden Pyongyang to further raise tensions on the Korean peninsula." In a phone call with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, von der Leyen said that North Korea is increasingly providing what she described as "lethal" assistance to Russia, representing "a significant escalation in the war against Ukraine and threatening global peace." EU Commission President assured President Yoon Suk Yeol that the EU's response to this development will centre on cooperation with the Republic of Korea and other like-minded partners. She praised the progress made in the security and defence partnership announced in Seoul during the EU-South Korea summit in May 2023. Von der Leyen noted that this partnership underscores the interlinked nature of the security of Europe and East Asia and will reinforce the EU's and the Republic of Korea's shared commitmen t to promoting peace and stability across both regions. She added during the call that the launch of this partnership is timely, and its logic is more valid than ever, especially as North Korean soldiers are being deployed for the first time to support Russia's war in Ukraine. Source: Kuwait News Agency
