US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Israeli officials during a meeting yesterday that it is necessary to avoid further escalation in Lebanon against the backdrop of the war in the Gaza Strip, the State Department said, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Blinken met with Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs.
The US Secretary of State stressed the importance of preventing further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic solution that would "allow Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes".
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-jun and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken condemned the new treaty between Russia and North Korea as a serious threat to regional peace and stability, a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said, Reuters reported. quoted by BTA.
In a telephone conversation yesterday, the two also discussed ways to react to the pact and agreed to closely monitor the situation, the foreign ministry said.
Blinken said the US supported South Korea's response to the accord, in which Moscow and Pyongyang said each would provide immediate military assistance to the other if it faced armed aggression.
Cho stated that any cooperation to help strengthen North Korea's military capabilities is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said.
The United States will consider various ways to respond to the threat to international peace and stability from Russia and North Korea, the ministry quoted Blinken as saying.
South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin said yesterday that Seoul would consider supplying weapons to Ukraine in response to the pact between Moscow and Pyongyang.