South Korea has called for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops reportedly deployed in Russia. The South Korean government summoned the Russian ambassador to address concerns over deepening military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow.
According to South Korea’s spy agency, it was verified on Friday that North Korea had sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia earlier in the month to assist in Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously mentioned intelligence suggesting that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were being readied to join Russian forces in the invasion.
During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev, Vice South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun strongly denounced North Korea’s troop deployment as a significant security threat to South Korea and the international community. Kim emphasized that South Korea, in coordination with global partners, would employ all available measures to address this threat to its national security interests.
The Russian ambassador, in response, assured that he would convey South Korea’s position to his government. The Russian Embassy stated that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea adheres to international laws and is not directed against South Korea’s security interests. The U.S. and NATO have yet to confirm the presence of North Korean troops in Russia.
Reports of North Korean troops in Russia have raised concerns in South Korea about potential technological transfers from Russia to North Korea, which could significantly bolster North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities. North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal poses a major security challenge to South Korea, especially following threats of nuclear weapon use from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Should evidence of Russian transfers of advanced nuclear and missile technologies to North Korea surface, South Korea may consider supplying weapons to Ukraine. The cooperation between North Korea and Russia has intensified in recent years, with allegations of North Korea supplying conventional arms to Russia in exchange for economic and military support.
This potential deployment of North Korean troops to Russia would mark their first participation in a major conflict since the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Despite concerns over their combat experience, the collaboration between North Korea and Russia has been evolving. In June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement for mutual military support in case of attacks on either nation.
The situation continues to develop, and the international community is closely monitoring the escalating tensions in the region. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.