(Seoul) South Korea summoned Russian Ambassador to Seoul Georgy Zinoviev on Saturday to protest “rude and ignorant” remarks after Moscow’s Foreign Ministry accused Seoul of being partly responsible of growing tension on the Korean peninsula.
The Foreign Ministry told Zinoviev that it was “deeply regrettable that the Russian side unconditionally supported North Korea while turning a blind eye to the truth” and “criticized the South Korean leader’s statements.” in highly disrespectful language.”
Such actions by Moscow only “further aggravate relations between South Korea and Russia,” he added.
The ministry previously called comments by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova “rude, ignorant and biased below the level required by a spokesperson for a country’s Foreign Ministry.”
“These comments ignore the obvious and objective reality of North Korea’s threatening rhetoric and continued provocations that are sparking tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region,” the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP on Saturday evening. .
Earlier this week, Maria Zakharova said the tension was “primarily due to the brazen policies of the United States and its allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan,” referring to South Korea by its name. official name.
Seoul “does not seem to realize that the dominant position of the United States is irrevocably becoming a thing of the past”, and that the South “may turn out to be little more than a small bargaining chip in geopolitical games from Washington,” she added.
Nuclear-armed North Korea this year declared Seoul its “main enemy,” closed agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over “even 0.001 millimeters” of territorial offense.
Russia, for its part, has established close ties with Pyongyang. Seoul and Washington say North Korea has shipped weapons to Moscow for use in its war against Ukraine.
Washington and Seoul say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has shipped weapons to Moscow, despite United Nations sanctions banning such actions.
Mr. Kim made a rare trip to Russia in September to meet President Vladimir Putin, who in return is expected to visit Pyongyang.