Russia warns U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea

Russia’s foreign minister warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea — Russia’s foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country’s ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to North Korea’s eastern Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunitions to support Russia’s war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs.

In this photo provided by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second right, shakes hands with North Korean officials upon his arrival at an airport outside Pyongyang, North Korea, on Friday.APAfter a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea.

“We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,” he told reporters, according to Russia’s state Tass news agency.