South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Saturday warned that North Korea is emerging as a growing security threat beyond the Korean Peninsula as its military ties with Russia deepen, while outlining Seoul’s plans to build a more technologically advanced and “self-reliant military.”

Speaking during the fourth plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Ahn said the security situation on the Korean Peninsula has become increasingly intertwined with broader global security challenges as Pyongyang gains combat experience and military technology through its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“North Korea’s military buildup and the advancement of its nuclear and