South Korea has called for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia, expressing concerns over their potential involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun strongly condemned the presence of approximately 1,500 North Korean soldiers, including special forces, in Russia and warned that Seoul would take all necessary measures in response.
The South Korean intelligence agency has reported that these troops are undergoing training to engage in combat in Ukraine, although the Russian ambassador didn’t confirm these allegations. He emphasized that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is occurring “within the framework of international law.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that this cooperation does not pose a threat to third countries and should not cause concern.
In recent years, South Korea has accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia for the war against Ukraine, noting that the current situation has escalated beyond mere transfers of military supplies. Some reports suggest that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers could be deployed. Vice Minister Kim highlighted that this development jeopardizes not only South Korea’s security but that of the international community as well.
The strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea follow a security agreement signed by their leaders, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, in June, which promises mutual assistance in case of aggression. Recently, Putin introduced legislation to ratify this pact.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called the potential deployment of North Korean troops a “significant escalation,” while South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged NATO to consider concrete counteractions and expressed intentions to bolster security cooperation with Ukraine. British Foreign Minister David Lammy labeled Russia’s actions as “reckless and illegal,” committing to work alongside South Korea in response.
The United States and Japan have also criticized the deepening military collaboration between North Korea and Russia. In a related statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed hope that all parties would work towards de-escalating the situation and seek a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis.
Defense experts have suggested that North Korea’s involvement could complicate the war, potentially inviting greater international involvement and increasing sanctions on both Russia and North Korea. However, some analysts believe the integration of North Korean troops into Russian military operations could present challenges, including a language barrier and lack of recent combat experience. It is speculated that North Korean soldiers might be assigned to guard the Russian-Ukrainian border rather than being deployed directly to the front lines.