Seoul: Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and the European Union’s (EU) top diplomat have “strongly” condemned North Korea’s recent troop deployment to Russia. The condemnation was announced during their meeting in Seoul, as stated by the defense ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim and Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, expressed their concerns about the North Korean troops gathering in a front-line area in western Russia, which could potentially lead to combat involvement. The two officials emphasized their commitment to working with the international community to prevent military collaboration between Russia and North Korea.

The meeting also highlighted the shared perspective that the security of Europe and the Atlantic region is interconnected with that of the Indo-Pacific. Both parties agreed to continue strengthening security cooperation between South Korea and the EU. This meeting was part of Borrell’s visit to South Korea, where he arrived a da
y prior to co-chair the inaugural Strategic Dialogue between South Korea and the EU.