| President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Sept. 12. Courtesy of presidential office |
The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol called on Russia on Tuesday to "act responsibly" as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Kim arrived in Russia earlier in the day aboard an armored train, according to South Korea's defense ministry, amid reports Kim and Putin will meet to discuss a deal exchanging North Korean arms for Russian defense technology.
"Our government has been understanding the overall situation well, independently and in cooperation with our allies and partner nations, and making full preparations," a presidential official told reporters.
"Many countries are watching the summit between North Korea, which is under U.N. sanctions, and Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, with a bit of concern for various reasons, but as the president has stated, we hope Russia will act responsibly as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council," the official added.
The exact timing and venue of the Kim-Putin summit have not been disclosed.
Yoon said last week during an East Asia Summit in Indonesia that "the responsibility of the Security Council's permanent members that adopted the resolutions can be said to be heavier," in reference to the council's sanctions resolutions against the North. (Yonhap)