Russia issued a stern warning to the United States, South Korea, and Japan against forging a trilateral security alliance explicitly targeting North Korea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement released [insert date and time of statement], expressed deep concern over the growing military cooperation between the three nations, characterizing it as a destabilizing factor in the already volatile region.

The statement emphasized that any alliance aimed at containing or confronting North Korea would dramatically escalate tensions and increase the risk of military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Russia argued that such a bloc would be perceived as aggressively hostile by Pyongyang, potentially prompting a heightened military response, including further missile tests or other provocative actions.

Moscow reiterated its long-standing position advocating for a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue, urging all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue and refrain from actions that could undermine the fragile peace.

The statement highlighted the importance of de-escalation and stressed that a military alliance would only serve to deepen the divisions and make a peaceful resolution significantly more difficult.

While the statement didn't explicitly threaten retaliatory measures, the strong wording underscored Russia's disapproval and its commitment to protecting its interests in the region.

The warning comes amidst a backdrop of increasingly close military cooperation between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, including joint military exercises and intelligence sharing, fueled by growing concerns over North Korea's expanding nuclear and missile programs.

Analysts suggest Russia's warning reflects its own strategic calculations in the region, including its desire to maintain influence over North Korea, a long-standing ally, and potentially to leverage the situation for its own geopolitical advantage.

The statement serves as a reminder of the complex interplay of geopolitical interests and the potential for further escalation in Northeast Asia.

The effectiveness of Russia's warning remains to be seen, with the three countries likely to continue their security cooperation despite Moscow's objections.

Russia's foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to North Korea's eastern Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have been , with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its .

After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea.

"We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia," he told reporters, according to Russia's state Tass news agency.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security.

North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. The country has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats.

Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons.

"The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development," Lavrov said.

During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea "unconditionally" supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. She described ties between North Korea and Russia as "the invincible alliance."

Lavrov said he repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region.

Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people.

In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that "I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. But prospects for the biggest tourist complex in North Korea aren't clear, as the country appears unlikely to reopen its borders and fully embrace Western tourists anytime soon.