G7 foreign ministers strongly condemn N. Korea's arms transfers to Russia

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries and the High Representative of the European Union pose for a photo in this undated file photo captured from the Italian Foreign Ministry's website. Yonhap

The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have condemned North Korea's arms transfers to Russia, calling it a direct violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan and the High Representative of the European Union issued the statement amid persistent speculation that the Sept. 13 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russian spaceport might have led to an arms deal.

The foreign ministers "also expressed their deep concern about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea or any Russian transfers to North Korea of conventional weapons or other dual-use items," according to the statement issued after the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Pyongyang is suspected of having provided artillery and munitions to Russia for use in Moscow's war in Ukraine in exchange for Russia's potential transfer of weapons technology.

In January, the White House said the North had provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used against Ukraine on Dec. 30, Jan. 2 and Jan. 6. (Yonhap)