The Japanese government has suspended aid to Russia for the second consecutive year amid deteriorating bilateral relations. Concurrently, Russia's foreign minister issued a warning to the United States, South Korea, and Japan against forming a security alliance aimed at North Korea during his visit to Seoul. Russia expressed regret over North Korea's absence at the ASEAN summit and defended Pyongyang's nuclear program in response to pressures from the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. The Russian government emphasized that any security partnership targeting North Korea would be opposed.