U.S., South Korea hold emergency call over Putin visit to North Korea

SpaceWar.com reports: “South Korean and U.S. officials held an emergency phone call over an upcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Friday.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun spoke with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell, the ministry said in a statement.

Kim ‘explained our clear position that Russian President Putin’s visit to North Korea should not result in deepening military cooperation that violates North Korea’s U.N. Security Council resolutions and undermines peace and stability in the region,’ the statement said.

Campbell agreed that the visit would heighten ‘regional instability and challenges’ and called for close cooperation between Washington and Seoul, according to the ministry.

Putin’s impending trip was first reported on Monday by Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper, which quoted Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora as saying preparations were underway.

Putin has visited North Korea only once before, in 2000, when he met with then-leader Kim Jong Il — the father of current leader Kim Jong Un…”

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