米、プーチン氏の訪朝「注視」　軍事協力強化を警戒

　【ワシントン時事】米国務省当局者は１０日、記者団に対し、ロシアのプーチン大統領が今月中にも北朝鮮を訪問する可能性があるとの報道について「実際に訪れた場合、何が起きるのか注視する必要がある」と述べ、ロ朝間の軍事協力強化に警戒感を示した。
　米当局者は、北朝鮮との武器取引を禁止する国連安保理決議が「依然として効力を有している」と指摘。「北朝鮮による違法な大量破壊兵器と弾道ミサイルの開発に関し、国際的な義務と約束を果たすよう求めていく」と強調し、ロシアに決議順守を呼び掛けた。（2024/06/11-14:07）

A U.S. State Department official expressed a cautious stance on Monday regarding the possible expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, referring to media reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit North Korea as early as this month.
   "We'll have to watch and see what happens if he does go, and what comes out of it," the official told reporters.
   Pointing out that U.N. Security Council resolutions banning arms deals with North Korea are "still in effect," the official called on all countries, including Russia, to honor their "international obligations and commitments" regarding the totalitarian state's illegal development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
   The official also said it is "very frustrating" that Pyongyang is "trying hard to ratchet up tensions" by, among others, test firing missiles and sending trash balloons to South Korea.
   While praising Seoul for "handling this well" in close coordination with Washington, the official noted, "We're going to continue to monitor the situation very closely."