He also warned that South Korea’s direct arms shipment to Ukraine would be a “very serious mistake,” threatening Seoul with retaliatory measures if it did so.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday June 20 “do not dismiss” the possibility of sending weapons to North Korea, pointing the finger at the deliveries of modern missiles by the West to Ukraine. “We reserve the right to supply weapons to other parts of the world, bearing in mind our agreements with North Korea, and I do not rule out this possibility”declared Vladimir Putin during a visit to Vietnam.
He also warned that South Korea’s direct arms shipment to Ukraine would be a “very serious error”threatening Seoul with retaliatory measures in the event of a decision to this effect. “I hope that doesn’t happen. If so, then we will have to make an appropriate decision, which will probably not please the South Korean leadership.”
Ten partnerships
The Russian president, visiting Hanoi, pledged Thursday to develop relations with Vietnam, to which his country has sold weapons for decades. “Russia attaches great importance to strengthening relations with Vietnam”, declared the Russian president, who met the main leaders of this communist state. The two parties have signed around ten partnerships, notably in energy, education and civil nuclear power. The joint press release emphasizes the atmosphere “warm and friendly” discussions and “high degree of trust and mutual understanding”.
Vietnam is the second and final stop on a mini-tour in Asia for Vladimir Putin, after North Korea on Wednesday, where the announcement of a bilateral defense agreement sparked new Western criticism. Hanoi also hopes “pushing cooperation in defense and security” with Moscow, underlined Vietnamese President To Lam.
