US Says Russia Committed To Thwart North Korea's Nuclear Plans But Wary Of Russian Militarisation In Black Sea

Russia remains committed to efforts leading to North Korea's nuclear disarmament. The Obama administration said Moscow is supporting the U.S.-led goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula despite Russia's invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit within the year.

The U.S. ambassador to North Korea Sung Kim said at a congressional hearing that the country is seeking to reduce its dependence on China by deepening ties with Russia. Previous reports have indicated that Russia has welcomed North Korea's efforts to reach out by forgiving some debt and investing in North Korea's railroad network. The U.S. Congress is currently investigating the threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes including its hacking capabilities following the high-profile attack on Sony Pictures.

South Korean media has reported that the North Korean leader has accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a military march in Moscow in May. Newsweek reported that the visit will be Kim Jong-un's first visit to a foreign country since taking the seat of power in 2011.

Kim added that Russia's negative views on North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons remains strong despite the tension in U.S.-Russia relations over the Ukraine conflict. He said Russia has repeatedly expressed its support to efforts preventing Pyongyang to conduct nuclear tests. Kim told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that Russia remains fully committed in the shared goal of the U.S.

According to Yahoo News, North Korea has previously expressed its willingness to join the long-delayed talks but opposed U.S. demands to take initial and concrete action to show its serious commitment to denuclearization. After the U.S. accused North Korea of hacking Sony Pictures, Russia offered some support. Moscow had declared in December that the U.S. failed to show strong evidence to back the claim that North Korea was behind the hacking.

Meanwhile, amid tensions with the U.S. and its European allies, Russia plans on reinforcing its military in Crimea, Kaliningrad and the Arctic throughout 2015. Russian General Staff chief Vallery Gerasinov said the Defence Ministry will focus increasing its combat capabilities in the given locations.

The Russian general's statement may likely cause more concern for the West as it sees Russia's military upgrades as a show of strength since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis. NATO top military commander General Philip Breedlove said that the U.S. and other alliance members are planning to intensify exercises in the Baltic Sea in response to Russian military aggression, the Moscow Times reported.

Any military movement in Kaliningrad, which is considered as NATO's doorstep bordering Poland and Lithuania, would concern the West. Breedlove has warned that Russia's "militarisation" of Crimea might be used for Moscow's benefit to gain control of the Black Sea.

Contact email: r.su@ibtimes.com.au