Russian Foreign Minister: "Expansion of US-South Korea-Japan Military Cooperation Increases Possibility of WMD Proliferation"

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, recently argued that the possibility of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, has increased as military cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan is being strengthened.

On September 3 (local time), at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held in Vladivostok, Minister Lavrov stated, "The trilateral axis of the United States, Japan, and South Korea is increasingly expanding cooperation and training in the military sphere."

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, attending the EEF event in Vladivostok on the 3rd (local time). Photo by Yonhap News.

Minister Lavrov noted, "Of course, recently, President Trump either abruptly canceled or significantly reduced the planned military exercises with these countries," but he pointed out, "Nonetheless, the overall trend is clear."

In particular, he claimed that under Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan is interested in adding a nuclear element to its military cooperation with Iran, and commented, "This also brings the threat and danger of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

Minister Lavrov added that Russia is implementing a policy of enhancing exchanges with East Asian countries and remarked, "A closed bloc that is blatant and aggressive in character, seeking to oppose this open and straightforward course, is in confrontation with us."

Meanwhile, Japan has not joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which bans the use and development of nuclear weapons, despite emphasizing the devastation caused by atomic bombs and the dangers of nuclear weapon use, as it considers the 'nuclear umbrella' provided by its ally, the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.