South Korea warns Russia over North Korean troop deployment
South Korea's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Hong Gyun, summoned Russian Ambassador Grigory Zinoviev on Monday regarding North Korea's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Yonhap agency reported. The Ministry of Defence in Seoul called on Pyongyang to immediately cease these actions.
Yonhap informed that the minister conveyed the government's position and expressed regret over North Korea sending soldiers to support Russia in the war with Ukraine.
Zinoviev, who left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building around 6 AM GMT, confirmed that he spoke with the deputy minister but declined to comment.
The Russian diplomat was summoned to the ministry in June regarding the strategic partnership treaty between North Korea and Russia, signed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. The document includes an article providing mutual assistance in the event of external aggression.
Thousands of Korean soldiers in Russia
South Korean intelligence services confirmed on October 18 that Pyongyang sent about 1,500 soldiers to the Russian Far East at the beginning of the month. After training, the troops are expected to be deployed to the front in Ukraine. According to authorities in Seoul, North Korea is ready to send up to 12,000 soldiers.
On Monday, the South Korean Ministry of Defence condemned Pyongyang's actions and called for their immediate halt.
Jeon Ha Gyu, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that North Korea's participation in the Russian conflict breaches UN resolutions and is an unlawful action that warrants condemnation from the global community.
The Yonhap agency reported on Monday that the Ministry of Defence in Seoul does not rule out the transfer of lethal weapons to Ukraine. So far, South Korea has not supplied such armaments to Kyiv.
When asked about the possibility, Jeon Ha Gyu explained that, based on North Korea's military cooperation with Russia, an analysis would be conducted, followed by government-level discussions to determine the appropriate actions to take.
