North Korean weapons trade with Russia deteriorates the security situation in the Indo-Pacific, the Netherlands’ defense minister said Monday, speaking aboard a Dutch warship deployed to the region to support monitoring of DPRK sanctions violations.

Minister Kajsa Ollongren made the remarks at a press conference in Busan on the multipurpose HNLMS Tromp frigate, which is making a five-day visit to South Korea’s main port as part of its deployment to the Indo-Pacific. 

“Russia depends heavily on very few countries that can supply them with arms, and North Korea is one of those few countries,” Ollongren said, adding that North Korea