Photo: Avril Haynes< /p>
Chief of National Intelligence Avril Haines will arrive in South Korea on Friday, June 28 and meet with the country's President Yoon Suk-yeol amid growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the conclusion of a pact between Moscow and Pyongyang, which, in particular, involves strengthening military cooperation.
The upcoming meeting was reported on Thursday, June 27, by the Joongang Ilbo, citing an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity, reports Reuters.
During the meeting, Haynes will discuss with Yelem the deepening of ties between Russia and North Korea and Pyongyang’s provocative actions. The meeting will be informal and the discussions are not planned to be made public, the source explained.
Nuclear-armed North Korea said Thursday it had successfully tested a missile capable of carrying multiple warheads that could hit a variety of targets. This was done as part of progress towards the goal set by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un – improvements to a range of strategic and tactical weapons.
In the first visit to North Korea by a Russian leader in 24 years, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense treaty that alarmed Washington and Seoul amid accusations that that Pyongyang is supplying Russia with weapons for the war against Ukraine.
After the signing of the military pact, South Korea said it would consider the possibility of direct supplies of weapons to Ukraine, changing its previous position.
South Korea has become a major arms exporter and aims to become the fourth largest arms supplier in the world.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga