South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador, urging the “immediate withdrawal” of North Korean troops allegedly being trained to participate in the conflict in Ukraine. According to Seoul’s intelligence agency, approximately 1,500 North Korean soldiers, including members of the special forces, have already arrived in Russia.
During a meeting with Ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun condemned the deployment and warned that Seoul would “respond with all measures available.” In response, Zinoviev stated he would convey these concerns but emphasized that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang operates “within the framework of international law.” He did not confirm reports of North Korean troops being sent to fight alongside Russian forces.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that the partnership between Russia and North Korea is “not directed against third countries” and should not be a cause for concern. South Korea has long accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, but officials claim the current situation extends beyond merely transferring military materials.
Some South Korean media have reported that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers could be deployed. Kim warned that this development poses a serious threat not only to South Korea but also to the international community.
Following a security pact signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, cooperation between the two nations has intensified. Last week, Putin proposed a bill to ratify the pact, which commits both countries to mutual support in case of aggression against either nation.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte indicated that North Korea’s involvement would signify a significant escalation in the conflict. During a phone call with Rutte, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged NATO to consider “concrete countermeasures” and expressed intentions to bolster security cooperation between South Korea, Ukraine, and NATO.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy, currently visiting Seoul, labeled Russia’s actions as “reckless and illegal,” promising London would collaborate with Seoul in response. The United States and Japan have also denounced the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.
In reaction to the allegations of North Korea-Russia cooperation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called for all parties to work towards de-escalation and seek a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis.
Defense experts have noted that North Korea’s involvement might complicate the war, potentially increasing international participation. However, some analysts believe that integrating North Korean troops into Russian military units may pose challenges due to language barriers and the lack of recent combat experience. Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Express, suggested that North Korean soldiers could be assigned to guard sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, allowing Russian units to focus their efforts elsewhere.