After meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Budapest on Wednesday that he “accepts” the position of the Central European country not to participate in NATO efforts for Ukraine.

Orban, seen as the closest of any EU leader to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has persistently obstructed the bloc’s efforts to supply Kyiv with arms and financing.

“No Hungarian personnel will take part in these activities and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them,” Stoltenberg said.

“At the same time, the prime minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward, and he has confirmed that Hungary will continue to meet its NATO commitments in full,” he added.

The NATO chief said he and Orban had “agreed modalities for Hungary’s nonparticipation in NATO’s support for Ukraine” but did not provide details.

Consensus

This year, Stoltenberg announced that NATO is seeking to guarantee long-term weapon deliveries to Kyiv and establish a 100-billion-euro ($108bn) fund to pay for them.

However, Hungary was quick to express its opposition.

The alliance hopes to seal an agreement on the proposals at a summit next month, and NATO decisions require consensus among its 32 members.

Western governments have been unhappy with some of Hungary’s positions since the start of the war in Ukraine, including a refusal to join some European Union sanctions against Russia or send arms shipments to Ukraine.

Nationalist-populist Orban has said he does not wish to allow “geopolitical tensions” surrounding the war to negatively impact Hungary’s relations with Russia, which include strong energy ties.

The meeting on Wednesday came amid efforts by Western allies to mobilise better support for Ukraine, both diplomatically and militarily.

The United States is planning a summit in Washington, DC, next month at which its fellow NATO members are expected to agree on a roadmap for providing long-term assistance and military training for Ukraine’s military.

During a joint news conference with the presidents of Latvia and Poland in Latvia’s capital, Riga, on Tuesday, Stoltenberg said he wants NATO allies to commit to a “long-term financial pledge” to Ukraine.

The military alliance has provided about 40 billion euros ($43bn) annually since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

“We must maintain this level of support for as long as necessary,” Stoltenberg said. “Credible, long-term support sends a clear message to President Putin that he cannot wait us out.”

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Linda Specht, senior advisor and U.S. lead negotiator for security agreements at the State Department, said that the two sides will have negotiations over the cost-sharing deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) from Monday through Wednesday. The Korean delegation is led by Lee Tae-woo, former consul general in Sydney.

“The delegation expects to continue working toward a common objective of a mutually acceptable agreement that advances our shared security,” she said in a statement.

The two sides have been in talks to negotiate the 12th SMA as the current six-year SMA is set to expire at the end of next year.

They launched the negotiations in April earlier than expected amid speculation that should former President Donald Trump return to the White House, he could call for a hefty increase in Seoul’s share of the cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong USFK in a way that could cause tension in the alliance.

Since 1991, Seoul has partially shared the cost for Korean USFK workers; the construction of military installations, such as barracks, as well as training, educational, operational and communications facilities; and other logistical support. (Yonhap)

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Amid soured relations between South Korea and Russia, the Russian leader’s remarks carry considerable weight, as they apparently indicate Moscow’s belief that diplomatic tensions with Seoul could potentially ease as long as certain boundaries are respected.

“Just like in our relations with Italy, we do not see any Russophobic stance when working with the South Korean government. Neither are there any weapons supplies to the conflict zone. We highly appreciate that,” Putin was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency, Thursday.

In mentioning the conflict zone, it appears that he was alluding to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Additionally, Putin acknowledged U.S. efforts to procure weapons from South Korea for Ukraine, emphasizing that he is closely monitoring the developments surrounding this matter.

The remarks were made during a meeting with representatives of international news agencies in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday (local time). It was a rare occasion for the Russian president to engage with foreign media, including those from nations designated as “unfriendly” by Russia.

Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute for National Unification, suggested that the expression of gratitude from Putin carries a subtle warning to Seoul against crossing certain boundaries.

“Putin’s appreciation for South Korea’s decision not to supply arms to Ukraine suggests his expectations for Seoul to uphold this stance. In particular, his mention of ‘closely monitoring U.S. efforts to seek weapons from South Korea’ indicates his desire for South Korea to remain committed to refraining from arms provisions despite increasing pressure from the West,” Cho said.

“If South Korea commits to doing so, in return, Russia would refrain from providing North Korea with advanced military technologies that could pose threats to South Korea,” he added.

Military experts view that the supply of South Korean arms to Ukraine could significantly shift the dynamics of the ongoing conflict in a way that is unfavorable to Russia, while North Korea’s apparent supply of munitions to Russia has not significantly impacted the course of the war.

Park Byong-hwan, director of the Institute for Eurasian Strategic Studies and former minister at the South Korean Embassy in Russia, suggested that Putin’s olive branch may have been influenced by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s earlier comments about fostering smooth relations with Russia.

In a press briefing held in May, Yoon conveyed his readiness to foster a harmonious relationship between South Korea and Russia by pursuing economic collaboration grounded in shared interests. He underscored Russia’s status as a longstanding partner in this endeavor.

“It is also noteworthy that Putin specifically mentioned the term ‘Russophobic,’ which he had not typically used when addressing relations with South Korea. This suggests that he is potentially aware of and concerned about the anti-Russia sentiment among South Korean people, as domestic public opinion can impact diplomatic relations,” Park said.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unavailable for immediate comment in response to The Korea Times’ inquiry about Putin’s remarks.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Russian leader expressed hopes that South Korea-Russia relations would not deteriorate and emphasized his interest in Korean Peninsula affairs and enhancing bilateral ties.

However, the near-term prospects for improving bilateral relations remains daunting, with Putin reaffirming his dedication to bolstering ties with Pyongyang.

“As for our relations with North Korea, our neighbors, we will foster them regardless of others’ opinions,” the Russian leader said.

According to the Kremlin, Putin is planning a reciprocal visit to North Korea following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to Russia in September last year.

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Yemen’s Houthis say they have launched a missile attack on a United States aircraft carrier in the Red Sea in response to deadly US and British strikes on Yemen. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the attack on the Eisenhower carrier on Friday; the group earlier claimed that at least 16 people were killed in US and UK assaults on the Hodeidah province, the highest publicly acknowledged death toll from multiple rounds of strikes over the group’s assault on shipping.

The fallout from Thursday’s attacks was announced on Al Masirah television, a Houthi-controlled channel, which broadcast a video that appeared to depict wounded civilians being treated in Hodeidah. At least 42 people were reportedly injured.

“The American-British aggression will not prevent us from continuing our military operations in support of Palestine,” Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, warning that the rebels would “meet escalation with escalation”.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X that attacks against 13 Houthi targets had “successfully destroyed” eight uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and over the Red Sea.

The British Ministry of Defence said Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s conducted attacks on Hodeidah and further south in Ghulayfiqah. It described targets as “buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones, as well as surface-to-air weapons”.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the military action was a form of “self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose”.

Undeterred

The Houthi movement, an Iran-aligned group that controls much of Yemen after nearly a decade of war against a Western-backed and Saudi-led coalition, has emerged as a strong supporter of Palestinians in Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 people.

The group has launched repeated drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden since November, demanding that Israel end the war.

Iran condemned the US-UK strikes as “violations of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity … international laws and human rights”, Iranian state media reported.

“The aggressor US and British governments are responsible for the consequences of these crimes against the Yemeni people,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.

According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping in total, killing three sailors, seizing one vessel and sinking another. This week, they attacked a ship carrying grain to Iran.

The campaign has forced shipping firms to avoid the Red Sea route, which normally carries about 12 percent of global trade, rerouting cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa.

Since January, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to degrade their ability to attack the vital waterways. But the attacks have done little to deter the Houthis.

On Wednesday, they said they had attacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier and several other vessels in response to Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

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The Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Gharib Abdel-Hafez said on Monday that competent authorities are investigating the shooting incident that took place at the Rafah border, which led to the martyrdom of one of the security forces personnel.

Egypt has warned against the repercussions of the Israeli military operations in the Saladin Axis (aka Philadelphia Corridor) along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt Egypt has warned against any actions that could jeopardize the security and safety of Egyptian personnel deployed on the border, the source said.

Initial investigations into the shooting incident resulting in the martyrdom of a soldier on the border suggest that gunfire occurred between members of the Israeli occupation forces and members of the Palestinian resistance, he added. This exchange of fire led to gunfire in multiple directions, prompting Egyptian security personnel to take protective measures and deal with the source of the gunfire, the source continued.

The international community must bear its responsibilities regarding the escalation of the security conditions on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip and the Philadelphia axis, not only for the security conditions on the borders but also for the facilitation of the flow of humanitarian aid, the source said.

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But a joint statement issued after the meeting of the three leaders did not mention their commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” as agreed at the previous summit in December 2019 in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu.

At a joint press announcement with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang following the gathering in Seoul, Kishida said that stability on the Korean Peninsula is in the “common interest” of the three Asian countries.

The statement only said, “We reiterated positions on regional peace and stability, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the abductions issue, respectively. We agree to continue to make positive efforts for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.”

North Korea said Monday it “strongly denounces and rejects” the joint declaration as “a blatant challenge” to the nation’s sovereignty and “wanton interference in its internal affairs,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized South Korea in a statement carried by KCNA, saying Seoul has brought a “grave security crisis” to the Korean Peninsula “by frantically strengthening military alliance for aggression with hegemonic forces outside the region,” referring to the United States.

The trilateral summit took place with the regional security environment becoming more severe amid nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, which has been bolstering its economic and military ties with China.

The Japanese government said earlier Monday that North Korea has notified Tokyo of its plan to launch a satellite-carrying rocket before June 4. The launch might involve the use of ballistic missile technology, a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

At the outset of the trilateral summit, Kishida urged North Korea to cancel its planned satellite launch, with Yoon, the chair of the meeting, saying it would endanger regional and global peace and stability.

Li, who took office in March 2023, did not touch on the issue, saying only that the role of China, Japan and South Korea is “to promote development, boost cooperation in East Asia and safeguard peace and prosperity in the region and the world.”

The statement also said, “We reaffirmed our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to an international order based on the rule of law and international law,” apparently targeting Russia.

The phrase might have been added to the statement as requested by Japan and South Korea despite opposition from China, effectively ruled solely by the Communist Party, as Tokyo and Seoul share common values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights, pundits said.

China has been trying to deepen relations with North Korea and Russia, while Japan and South Korea have been strengthening security cooperation, criticizing Beijing’s increasing military assertiveness and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, the leaders of Japan, South Korea and China agreed to work together in a wide range of fields, including people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation, at their first trilateral summit in more than four years.

On the economic front, the three leaders pledged to speed up negotiations toward the signing of a three-way free trade agreement, which stalled in early 2020 against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the joint statement showed.

Kishida, Yoon and Li also reaffirmed that they will join hands to enhance supply chains that are vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, natural disasters and epidemics, causing disruptions in production and business operations.

Nevertheless, the outlook for trade and economic talks is gloomy as it is uncertain how much China will satisfy Japan’s demands to rectify Beijing’s alleged unfair business practices, such as strict information regulations and opaque benefits to state-owned companies.

In principle, the Asian countries hold trilateral summits annually on a rotating basis, but they have occasionally been suspended as Japan’s ties with its two neighbors have soured over historical and territorial disputes.

Recently, Tokyo and Beijing have been at odds over trade after China imposed a blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports in the wake of the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that began in August 2023.

At their bilateral meeting on Sunday, Kishida asked Li for an immediate lifting of the import ban. But Li expressed Beijing’s anxiety about the discharge, referring to the water as “nuclear-contaminated,” according to Chinese state-run media.

Last week, meanwhile, China carried out two-day military drills around Taiwan, arguing that they are a “strong punishment” for those seeking the island’s independence and a “stern warning” to “external forces” against interference and provocation.

The military exercises followed last Monday’s inauguration of Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, whom China condemns as a separatist. He is the leader of the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

Kishida said Sunday that he conveyed Japan’s “serious concern” about China’s expanding military activities, emphasizing that Tokyo believes stability in the Taiwan Strait is “crucial” not only for the region but also for the international community.

China’s Foreign Ministry, however, said Li told Kishida that Taiwan is at the “core” of Beijing’s interests and a “red line” that must not be crossed.

The joint statement released after the trilateral summit on Monday did not refer to Taiwan.

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The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the suspected satellite-carrying rocket being launched in a southward direction over the West Sea from the Tongchang-ri area in the country’s northwest at about 10:44 p.m.

The projectile, however, was detected as multiple pieces of debris in the country’s waters two minutes later, the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters, noting that a detailed analysis is under way between the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States about whether the projectile flew normally.

Pyongyang had earlier notified Japan that it will launch a satellite sometime before June 4 and designated three areas, where rocket debris will fall, as a precaution for safety. The liftoff came on the first day of the eight-day launch window.

The launch also came after President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a trilateral summit in Seoul on Monday and reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

During the summit, Yoon and Kishida also urged the North to call off the launch plan.

If confirmed, it would mark the North’s latest satellite launch attempt after the country successfully put its first military spy satellite into orbit in November last year after two unsuccessful attempts in May and August, respectively.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to send three more spy satellites into orbit in 2024.

The North’s space rocket launches have drawn condemnation from Seoul, Washington and others, as they violate U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the country from launches using ballistic missile technology.

Ahead of the latest launch, the South’s military on Monday warned it would take “powerful” measures in response to the North’s launch plan and staged air drills, involving advanced fighter jets, near the inter-Korean border in a show of force.

The November launch had ratcheted up tensions between the two Koreas and prompted the South to partially suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement.

The North in turn vowed to restore all measures halted under the peace deal, and has rebuilt demolished guard posts inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas and installed mines on rare cross-border roads.

The latest launch also comes amid concerns over deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow after a rare summit between the North’s leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russian spaceport last September, where Putin pledged to help the North to build satellites.

South Korean officials have said Pyongyang has supplied weapons to Moscow to fuel its war on Ukraine in return for food, other necessities and technological assistance, raising concern over possible developments to the North’s military programs.

A military spy satellite is among the list of advanced weapons the North vowed to develop at a key party congress in 2021, which also includes solid-fuel ICBMs, a nuclear-powered submarine and hypersonic weapons.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, however, has said the North’s satellite launched last year appears to be orbiting Earth without activity, suggesting that it is not functioning properly.

Seoul has also sought to bolster its independent reconnaissance capabilities, launching two military satellites into orbit last December and last month, respectively, as part of efforts to acquire five spy satellites by 2025 to better monitor North Korea. (Yonhap)

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The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out an attack on the Eilat Port in occupied Palestine with several drones.

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