NATO chief visits Japan, South Korea as North Korea blames war on Asia

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg begins a visit to Asia, arriving in South Korea on Sunday (January 29) before heading to Japan on Monday. The visit is to strengthenRelations with US allies in East Asia, both in support of Ukraine in the war with Russia, as well as in the face of China's resurgence in the region.

NATO wants to create a new Cold War in Asia. This is according to the publication by many major international newspapers.

In the South Korean capital, Seoul, Stoltenberg met with Foreign Minister Park Jin and President Yoon Suk-yeol, as well as Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup. The head of the military alliance told the Korean Foreign Minister in a speechA statement that NATO is suspected that North Korea is providing military assistance to Russia to continue the war in Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg also called on Seoul to increase aid to Ukraine, especially military aid.

In response, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin reiterated that given the unprecedented global challenges, Seoul believes that unity among countries that uphold core values ​​is freedom, democracy. And the rule of law is more important than ever.

The NATO chief resumed his flight to Tokyo on Monday after a one-day visit to South Korea. He is said to be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other Japanese officials.

South Korea has already signed major agreements to supply hundreds of tanks, fighter jets and weapons to NATO member Poland since the war began. But South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has said that the lawThe country is finding it difficult to supply weapons directly to Ukraine. However, Stoltenberg noted that countries such as Germany, Sweden and Norway have similar policies to South Korea, but they have changed those policies recently.

The visit of the Secretary-General of the NATO Military Alliance comes after the unprecedented participation of the leaders of South Korea and Japan at the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022. While the military coalition jointly considered "China is a major issue for European-Atlantic security."

According to Neil Thomas, senior analyst for China and East Asia of the Eurasia Group, the growing partnership between NATO and South Korea and Japan reflects common concerns about ambitions. China's transformationBecome a regional hegemonic power through military build-up and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that new measures to boost cooperation and dialogue could include unprecedented security areas such as cyber security and economic coercion.

Meanwhile, in an article published by the North Korean news agency (KCNA), Kim Tong-myong, a North Korean researcher on international political studies, strongly condemned the visit of the secretary-general. Come toEast Asia seems intent on inciting and preparing for a NATO alliance in Asia. Kim said the trip to South Korea and Japan was a step towards confrontation and war, as well as bringing a new Cold War dark cloud to the Asia-Pacific region.