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South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the country's proposed cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is designed to enhance the contributions of both sides to global peace and stability. The statement was Seoul's first response to recent concerns raised by Russia over what it described as growing military cooperation between Seoul and NATO.

"Cooperation between South Korea and NATO is aimed at strengthening each side's capabilities across various sectors, including defense industry, new technologies and cybersecurity, so as to reinforce each side's role and contribution to international peace and stability," the ministry said in a written statement.

"In addition, our government continues to hold necessary communication with the Russian side to stably manage South Korea-Russia relations and protect our people and companies," it added.

Coverage Comparison

The response came after Russia's foreign ministry expressed displeasure over Seoul's deepening military cooperation with NATO, according to Russia's Tass news agency. In a statement Thursday, the Russian ministry said it had "expressed serious concern over Seoul's growing drift toward NATO," as demonstrated by South Korea's practical steps to deepen military and military-technical cooperation with the alliance, the consequences of which "pose a threat to Russia's security."

Moscow further argued that Seoul's growing cooperation with NATO made it a "de facto participant in NATO's qualitative and quantitative rearmament process, as the alliance has openly declared its preparations for war with Russia."

The Russian statement followed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month as one of the alliance's four Asia-Pacific partners. It marked his first appearance at NATO's annual top-level gathering. A photo published by Yonhap shows Lee posing with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other Asia-Pacific partner representatives during their meeting on July 7, 2026, to discuss security cooperation.

Key Claims

  • South Korea's foreign ministry said its proposed cooperation with NATO is aimed at strengthening each side's capabilities in defense industry, new technologies, and cybersecurity, to reinforce their roles in international peace and stability.
  • The ministry said it continues to communicate with Russia to stably manage bilateral relations and protect South Korean people and companies.
  • Russia's foreign ministry expressed serious concern over Seoul's deepening military cooperation with NATO, saying it poses a threat to Russia's security.
  • Moscow argued that Seoul's cooperation makes it a "de facto participant" in NATO's rearmament process.
  • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, 2026, as one of the alliance's four Asia-Pacific partners.
  • North Korea condemned NATO's recently approved fuel network overhaul plan, casting it as an "unprecedented" effort to prepare for war and evidence that the alliance is becoming "a more aggressive military bloc."
  • The condemnation came in a commentary carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), after NATO approved the Fuel Supply Chain Capability Programme Plan last month, which seeks to modernize and expand its Cold War-era military fuel pipeline and storage network across Europe.
  • Pyongyang alleged that the initiative reflected NATO's intention to stockpile military supplies for future conflicts, calling it "the evil intention of NATO to stockpile enough fuel and other war supplies and thus kindle the flames of war any time in any part of the world."
  • The North also accused NATO of expanding its military presence into the Asia-Pacific region.

Perspectives

South Korean government

Seoul's foreign ministry maintains that cooperation with NATO is aimed at enhancing both sides' contributions to global peace and stability, and stresses that it continues necessary communication with Russia to manage bilateral relations stably.

Russian government

Russia's foreign ministry expressed serious concern over what it sees as Seoul's growing drift toward NATO, arguing that deepening military and military-technical cooperation poses a threat to Russia's security and makes South Korea a de facto participant in NATO's rearmament preparations.

North Korean government

North Korea, through KCNA, condemned NATO's fuel network overhaul plan as an "unprecedented" preparation for war and accused the alliance of stockpiling war supplies and expanding its military presence into the Asia-Pacific region.