South Korea intends to improve cooperation with Japan and the United States out of “necessity” enhanced by Russia’s ties with North Korea, according to South Korean officials.

“The strengthening of defense capabilities in response to North Korea’s threats and provocations is a natural measure to protect our population,” the South Korean foreign ministry told TASS, a state-run Russian outlet. “The [longer] the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea lasts the stronger the necessity of cooperation in the security area between the Republic of Korea, the US and Japan will be.”