G7 to condemn deepening Russia-N. Korea military ties at Italy summit

The Group of Seven leaders are set to strongly condemn deepening Russia-North Korea military cooperation at their summit in Italy later this week amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a diplomatic source said on June 10, Report informs referring to Kyodo News.

Citing a draft communique to be issued at the three-day summit starting Thursday in Fasano in southern Italy, the source said the leaders will also renew their commitment to "steadfast" support for Ukraine while voicing concerns about China's growing military assertiveness.

The G7 summit will take place with fears mounting that Russia and North Korea have been strengthening their military relations, especially after the launch of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

North Korea has drawn criticism for apparently transferring ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, despite it being banned from exporting any weapons to other countries under UN Security Council resolutions.

In the communique, the G7 leaders will condemn "in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation" between Russia and North Korea, which have traditional friendly ties, while continuing to "stand with Ukraine," the source said.

The leaders are also expected to express "serious concerns" about the use of water cannons by the Chinese coast guard against Philippine vessels in nearby waters, which has been cited as a prime example of Beijing's provocative military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

The joint statement will emphasize that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are "indispensable" to the world, calling for peaceful solutions to issues regarding the self-ruled democratic island, which China sees as its own territory, the source added.