South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador, demanding the “immediate withdrawal” of North Korean troops reportedly being trained to fight in Ukraine. Approximately 1,500 North Korean soldiers, including special forces units, have already arrived in Russia, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency.
During a meeting with ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun condemned this military cooperation and warned that Seoul will “respond with all measures available.” Zinoviev stated he would relay these concerns but emphasized that the collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang operates “within the framework of international law.”
Details regarding this cooperation remain vague, and the ambassador did not confirm allegations of North Korean troops being deployed alongside Russian forces. Pyongyang has also remained silent on the matter. South Korea has long accused the North of supplying weapons to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine; however, the current escalation suggests a more direct military involvement with possible deployments of up to 12,000 soldiers.
“This not only gravely threatens South Korea but poses risks to the international community,” Kim stated. The relationship between Russia and North Korea has intensified since their leaders signed a security pact in June, committing to mutual support against external aggression. Recently, Russia has moved to ratify this agreement.
NATO leader Mark Rutte warned that North Korea’s military involvement would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Additionally, the United States and Japan have condemned the increasing military collaboration between North Korea and Russia.
Defense experts have indicated that North Korea’s participation could complicate the war dynamics, potentially inviting broader international involvement. Moon Seong-mok from the Korea National Strategy Institute noted, “The international community will likely increase sanctions and pressure on both Russia and North Korea.” However, concerns linger over the practical challenges of integrating North Korean troops into Russian military operations due to language barriers and a lack of recent combat experience.
Experts suggest that North Korean forces may be assigned to guard sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, thereby allowing Russian units to be redeployed more effectively.
