Australia's foreign minister says Russia-North Korea defense deal is 'risky for the world'

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Australia’s foreign minister said Tuesday the recent defense deal between North Korea and Russia was “destabilizing” and “risky for the world,” after she visited the tense border village shared by North and South Korea on Tuesday.

In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, deepening worries about the expanding ties between the countries. The U.S. and its partners have steadfastly accused North Korea of supplying much-needed conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance.

“I also want to say something about the security pact between North Korea and Russia. And say again, this is destabilizing. This is risky for the world and again we say Russia is behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters following a visit to the southern side of the Korean border village of Panmunjom.

Wong condemned North Korea’s extended run of missile tests that she said threaten regional security. “We share great concerns about DPRK’s escalatory reactions, destabilizing actions,” she said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Also Tuesday, Wong met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul and agreed to work together with the international community to cope with the North Korean-Russian military partnerships, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. Wong also met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and exchanged opinions on how to improve bilateral relations, Yoon's office said in a statement.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been running high in recent months, with North Korea flying trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea and continuing weapons tests. South Korea has responded by resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and live-fire drills at border areas.

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Associated Press video journalist Kim Yong Ho contributed to this report from Paju, South Korea.

CORRECTS THE SOURCE TO UNITED NATIONS COMMAND, NOT AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY REPUBLIC OF KOREA - In this photo provided by United Nation Command, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, center left, and UNC DCDR Derek Allen Macaulay, center right, come out from the U.N. Command Military Armistice Commission meeting room at the border village of the Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (United Nation Command via AP)

CORRECTS THE SOURCE TO UNITED NATIONS COMMAND, NOT AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY REPUBLIC OF KOREA - In this photo provided by United Nation Command, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visits the border village of the Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (United Nation Command via AP)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks to the media after visiting the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, at the JSA Visitor Center in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, right, during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, left, talks with UNCMAC Australian soldiers after visiting the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, at the JSA Visitor Center in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, right, talks with UNCMAC Australian soldiers before visiting the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, at the JSA Visitor Center in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul prior to their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, right, talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, right, is escorted by UNC DCDR Derek Allen Macaulay before visiting the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, at the JSA Visitor Center in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, left, is escorted by UNC DCDR Derek Allen Macaulay, second from left, before visiting the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, at the JSA Visitor Center in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

TURIN, Italy (AP) — New Zealand dominated Italy everywhere except the scoreboard in a tour-ending 29-11 win in autumn rugby on Saturday.

The All Blacks wanted to sign off 2024 in style and send off departing stalwarts Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a flourish after five weeks in Yokohama, London, Dublin, Paris and Turin.

But Italy, humiliated by the All Blacks 96-17 last year at the Rugby World Cup, gave a passionate, committed effort to restrict New Zealand to its lowest score in this matchup in 15 years.

New Zealand was held to 17-6 until the last 10 minutes when it conjured tries for backs Mark Tele'a and Beauden Barrett while Italy was down to 14 men.

But those tries were split by Italy's one and only try, to Tommaso Menoncello served up by his center partner Juan Ignacio Brex.

New Zealand carried for more than twice as many meters, beat 31 defenders, but suffered from 18 handling errors, only one more than Italy.

Italy saved its best for last this autumn after being thrashed by Argentina and struggling past Georgia.

The Italians, privileged to play the first non-football match in a sold-out Juventus Stadium, were on it from the outset, and Paolo Garbisi and Beauden Barrett traded penalties.

Moments after All Blacks captain Scott Barrett was sin-binned for a dangerous clearout, scrumhalf Cam Roigard snuck through the middle of Italy's ruck defense for the first try in the 24th minute.

Monty Ioane typified Italy's defense when he made a try-saving tackle on Will Jordan from behind, got up, and made another try-saver on Wallace Sititi, forcing a forward pass.

But Jordan typified the All Blacks' class, as Italy ran out of defenders and his 38th try in 41 tests passed Jonah Lomu on their all-time try-scoring list.

After the All Blacks survived Italy's siege of their try-line after halftime — though repeated fouls saw center Anton Lienert-Brown sin-binned — Italy then repelled 16 phases by New Zealand at the expense of replacement prop Simone Ferrari's yellow card for too many fouls, too.

Ferrari helped the All Blacks, but they also got a lift from their bench, notably from Perenara, who had led his last All Blacks haka. As he came on, fellow World Cup winner Cane departed to wide applause after his 104th and last test.

Italy's defense led by No. 8 Ross Vintcent with 21 tackles and Menoncello's 14 continued to swarm while a man down, but the All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the advantage to give the scoreline a flattering look.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand perform the haka head of the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, left, and Italy's Ange Capuozzo compete for the ball during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Mark Tele'a makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs at the defence during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan is tackled by Italy's Monty Ioane during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)