On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the importance of nuclear deterrence, North Korea, and military support for Ukraine in Seoul.
On the second day of his visit to South Korea, the Secretary General mentioned, among other things, that nuclear deterrence will be necessary as long as authoritarian states possess and develop nuclear weapons.
He stated that NATO member countries are able to protect their allies who do not have nuclear weapons with the power of nuclear deterrence, and he cited South Korea as an example, which is protected by the nuclear forces of the United States.
"We are doing all this to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons." - he added in his speech at the event of the Seoul-based Chei Research Institute, which investigates the geopolitical situation of the Korean Peninsula.
He also stressed that the world would be a more dangerous place if some NATO member states, including France and the United States, got rid of their own nuclear arsenal amid threats from China, North Korea and Russia.
At the same time, Stoltenberg urged South Korea to increase the level of military support for Ukraine.
Although he emphasized that the final decision on the matter rests with the Seoul government, he recalled that several countries that had previously strictly opposed arms exports had changed their position following Russia's war against Ukraine.
"If we don't want arbitrariness and tyranny to win, then (the Ukrainians) need weapons, that's the truth," the Secretary General stated.
Stoltenberg pointed out that it is "extremely important" that Russia does not win this war, because a Russian victory would send the message to other countries, such as China, that they can take what they claim by force.
South Korea, a significant arms exporter in the world, recently agreed on the delivery of hundreds of tanks with several European countries, including NATO member Poland.
However, the Asian country's laws prohibit the sale of weapons to countries at war, so South Korea has so far supported Ukraine with humanitarian aid and non-lethal equipment.
On Monday, Stoltenberg also commented on reports from Washington that North Korea is supporting the Russian side with weapons, and warned that Moscow is probably preparing for a new offensive.
The Secretary General is scheduled to fly from Seoul to Tokyo, where he will also meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kisida.
Source: 888.hu
Featured image: MTI/AP/Kyodo pool
