Russia has criticized a recent nuclear agreement between the United States and South Korea, warning that the new deal would escalate the existing tensions in the region and destabilize the world.
“We call on the United States and its allies, who, in pursuit of decisive military superiority, are implementing a number of military programs that undermine global strategic stability, to stop escalating the situation and abandon steps leading to a weakening of the overall level of security for all states,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.
The criticism came two days after US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol signed a nuclear deal named the Washington Declaration.
Under the deal, the US will deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea, while cooperating with Seoul in the use of Wachington’s nuclear weapons in any potential conflict with North Korea.
In addition, there will be a routine visit of aircraft carriers and bombers to the region to send a message to the enemy, informed officials.
“This development is clearly destabilizing in nature and will have serious negative consequences for regional security, impacting on global stability,” Zakharova reiterated.
After signing the Washington Declaration, in a joint press conference with his visiting South Korean counterpart, Biden threatened the North saying its government would cease to exist if its leader Lim Jung-un were to order a nuclear attack against the United States or its allies.
“A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners is unacceptable and will result at the end of whatever regime were to take such an action,” Biden claimed.
Following Biden’s provocative remark, Pyongyang’s close ally, Beijing, issued a statement urging Washington and Seoul against “stirring up tensions”, warning them not to “provoke confrontation” with North Korea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, at a press conference on Thursday, insisted that the two countries should, instead of provocations, play a constructive role and devise a peaceful mechanism to solve the decades-old bone of contention between the Koreas.
“All parties should face up to the crux of the (Korean) peninsula issue and play a constructive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the issue,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.