Russia claims South Korea, not North Korea, responsible for Korean Peninsula tensions

Russia has accused South Korea of being the primary source of tension and instability on the Korean Peninsula, rather than North Korea, citing the recent declaration and swift revocation of martial law by the South Korean President.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during an interview on December 5 with Russian Channel One, pointed to the fate of former South Korean leaders: “some were killed, overthrown, imprisoned, some committed suicide.”

She added, “This is not normal. There is no stability, no democracy, no rule of law.”

Zakharova went on to claim that the current developments in South Korea align with the political system “created by the Western community.”

“In my opinion, many people have understood why Pyongyang is so concerned about its security,” she said.

“Because they see how in a few hours a country that calls itself democratic can turn into absolute chaos, with tanks in the streets, seizure of parliament, confrontation of people, all kinds of power moves. With such an unpredictable neighbor, or rather predictable from the point of view of instability, it is a good idea to think about its security.”

She also accused the United States of destabilizing the entire area by using South Korea as a tool, while emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing North Korea’s security.

In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Zakharova’s claims, stating they are “not worth considering” and strongly condemned Russia’s ongoing “illegal military cooperation” with North Korea.

A South Korean foreign ministry official stated on December 6, “The assertion that South Korea is causing tension and instability on the Korean Peninsula has no merit.” The official added, “It is clear who is violating international norms by developing and proliferating nuclear weapons and missiles, threatening peace and stability in the region and globally.”

The ministry also urged Russia to “immediately cease its illegal military cooperation with North Korea,” reiterating that such actions are a significant contributor to both regional and global instability.

BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]