South Korea has demanded the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops allegedly deployed in Russia, escalating tensions over reported military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. On Monday, Seoul summoned the Russian ambassador to formally protest the deepening relationship between North Korea and Russia, which South Korea views as a grave threat to regional and international security.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that North Korea sent 1,500 special forces personnel to Russia this month to support Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine. The intelligence report follows claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that his government has evidence of 10,000 North Korean soldiers being prepared to join the Russian invasion force. These reports have prompted concern in Seoul that North Korea's involvement in the war could lead to the exchange of sophisticated military technology between Pyongyang and Moscow, further endangering South Korea's security.
During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun condemned the alleged deployment of North Korean troops, calling it "a grave security threat" to South Korea and the broader international community. "We will mobilize all available means in cooperation with the international community to address any action that threatens our core national security interests," Kim said, according to a statement from the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
Ambassador Zinoviev, however, downplayed concerns about the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The Russian embassy quoted Zinoviev as saying that the cooperation "is not aimed against the security interests of South Korea." The Kremlin has also dismissed the allegations, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that there is "a lot of contradictory information" and that the claims should be treated with caution.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a phone conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, expressed his dismay at the "reckless" military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. "South Korea will not sit idly by," Yoon stated, announcing plans to send a delegation to NATO to exchange information about the situation. Rutte echoed these concerns, writing on social media that North Korean involvement in the conflict would "mark a significant escalation."
The U.S. and NATO have not confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops, but reports of their presence have stoked fears in South Korea that Russia might provide North Korea with advanced technologies in exchange for military support. North Korea's expanding nuclear arsenal is already a major concern for Seoul, especially following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent threats to use nuclear weapons preemptively against perceived adversaries.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, South Korea has aligned itself with U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow but has stopped short of supplying weapons to Kyiv. However, analysts say that the prospect of Russian high-tech arms transfers to North Korea could prompt South Korea to reconsider its position and possibly provide military aid to Ukraine.
The cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has grown increasingly evident over the past two years. South Korean intelligence recently claimed that North Korea provided Russia with over 13,000 containers of artillery shells, anti-tank rockets, and other lethal weapons since August. Furthermore, satellite images released last week purportedly showed North Korean special forces arriving in Russia's far east to receive training before being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine.
The alleged deployment of North Korean troops marks the first time Pyongyang has directly participated in a major foreign conflict since the end of the Korean War in 1953. The White House, while unable to confirm the reports, has called such participation "a dangerous development" in Russia's war against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have also shared a video purportedly showing North Korean recruits collecting Russian military uniforms and supplies, though the authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
During his visit to Kyiv on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reiterated America's commitment to providing Ukraine with the necessary security assistance to fend off Russian aggression. Austin's visit was seen as a show of support for Ukraine at a critical time when reports of North Korean troops joining the conflict had emerged. Austin announced an additional $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, including rocket and artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. "The U.S. remains committed to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself," Austin said during a press conference with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Many military experts question the potential effectiveness of North Korean forces on the battlefield, given their lack of modern combat experience. However, their deployment could provide Russia with badly needed manpower as it faces a grueling counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces. "The addition of North Korean troops may not turn the tide of the war, but it certainly complicates the already precarious situation in Ukraine," said one analyst.
The deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia have caused considerable alarm in South Korea, Ukraine, and the United States. Some experts believe that this alliance could lead to an expanded conflict, drawing other nations into the fray. "North Korea's involvement not only changes the military dynamics in Ukraine but also raises the stakes for neighboring countries," said Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence.
