SEOUL: South Korea announced plans to adopt “phased measures” in response to the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, urging North Korea to retract its deployed troops from Russian territory. This development comes amidst concerns over the security implications for South Korea and the wider international community.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the presidential National Security Council (NSC) convened to evaluate reports from the National Intelligence Service indicating that North Korea has dispatched approximately 12,000 troops to Russia, with around 1,500 already stationed in Russia’s Far East. The NSC labeled this military collaboration a “significant security threat” and a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit military cooperation with North Korea.
Deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo emphasized the South Korean government’s demand for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean forces during a briefing. Kim warned that continued illegal military cooperatio
n between North Korea and Russia would prompt South Korea to “respond firmly in collaboration with the international community,” with potential “phased measures” being considered depending on the extent of their military ties.
A senior presidential official hinted at possible scenarios including the provision of weapons for both defense and attack purposes. In June, South Korea had suggested the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine following a defense pact between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Seoul has thus far limited its support to non-lethal humanitarian aid.