Seoul: The foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, is anticipated to visit South Korea next week, diplomatic sources reported on Tuesday. The agenda is expected to focus on North Korea’s recent deployment of troops to Russia, a situation that has raised international concerns.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, will arrive in Seoul after a visit to Japan. Although the visit was arranged prior to North Korea’s troop deployment, discussions with South Korean officials are expected to address the strengthening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. Borrell is also scheduled to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
The European Union has signaled its readiness to implement independent sanctions in response to North Korea’s actions. Therefore, the meetings are likely to explore cooperative measures between the EU and South Korea in addressing the emerging security concerns.
The United States
announced on Monday that North Korea has deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia for training purposes. Additionally, North Korean troops have been positioned in Russia’s western front-line Kursk region, according to the chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
In a related development, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had a telephone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday. They assessed the progress on the security and defense partnership that was announced during the summit in Seoul in May 2023, as stated by the EU in a press release. The partnership highlights the interconnected nature of security in Europe and East Asia and aims to strengthen the commitment of both the EU and South Korea towards promoting peace and stability in these regions.
Von der Leyen also conveyed the EU’s concern regarding the intensifying military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which could potentially embolden Pyongyang to escalate tensions on the
Korean Peninsula.