South Korea is urging an immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia amid concerns that they are being trained to participate in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun expressed grave concerns in a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, stating that Seoul is prepared to respond with all available measures.
According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, approximately 1,500 North Korean soldiers, including special forces, have already arrived in Russia. South Korea’s government has summoned the Russian ambassador to communicate its demands for the immediate exit of these troops.
Ambassador Zinoviev acknowledged the concerns but emphasized that the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is conducted “within the framework of international law.” However, he did not elaborate on the specific cooperation and did not confirm reports that North Korea has dispatched troops to aid Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the military collaboration is “not directed against third countries” and should not alarm anyone, according to Russian state media. Pyongyang has yet to release a statement regarding the allegations.
South Korea has long alleged that North Korea has been supplying military equipment to Russia for use in the war but claims the situation has escalated beyond material support. Some reports suggest that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers could be deployed in Russia.
Minister Kim cautioned that this development poses a substantial threat not only to South Korea but also to the broader international community.
The increased cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang follows a security pact signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, committing the two nations to mutual assistance in case of aggression. Last week, Putin submitted a bill to ratify this agreement.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte indicated that North Korea’s troop involvement would represent a significant escalation in the conflict. During a conversation with Rutte, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for the alliance to consider “concrete countermeasures” and mentioned plans to enhance security cooperation among South Korea, Ukraine, and NATO.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, on a visit to Seoul, condemned Russia’s actions as “reckless and illegal,” affirming London’s commitment to collaborating with Seoul on a response.
The United States and Japan have also expressed their disapproval of the growing military relationship between North Korea and Russia.
In response to inquiries regarding the alleged cooperation from the BBC, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that China hopes all involved parties will work toward de-escalation and seek political resolutions to the crisis in Ukraine.
Defense analysts have noted that North Korea’s involvement might complicate the conflict, potentially leading to increased international engagement. Some critics, however, argue that integrating North Korean forces into Russian military operations could pose challenges due to language barriers and the lack of recent combat experiences in the North Korean army.
Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Express, suggested that North Korean troops may be utilized for border security tasks, allowing existing Russian units to engage in more critical operations elsewhere. He dismissed the idea that these troops would be deployed directly to the front lines immediately.