The foreign ministers of the three countries said in a joint statement that they "strongly condemn the provision of military equipment and munitions" by North Korea to Russia "for use against the government and people of Ukraine."
They added that "such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war of aggression."
The three foreign ministers also said that "in return for its arms support" for Moscow, North Korea was "seeking military assistance from Russia to advance its own military capabilities," the Reuters news agency reported.
The statement said that the United States, Japan and South Korea were "monitoring closely for any materials that Russia provides" to North Korea "in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives."
It added that any arms transaction with North Korea violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions that Moscow itself voted for, Reuters reported.
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week thanked North Korea for supporting his country's war effort in Ukraine, according to reports at the time.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Thursday is day 610 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, state.gov