Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed serious concerns over North Korea’s decision to send troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine conflict, during a phone conversation on Monday, according to Yoon’s office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the talks were initiated by Rutte to discuss the burgeoning military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow and to explore possible joint responses. The National Intelligence Service of South Korea had earlier reported that North Korea plans to deploy approximately 12,000 troops, with about 1,500 already positioned in Russia’s Far East.
President Yoon highlighted the threat this alliance between North Korea and Russia poses to global security and the rules-based international order. He emphasized the interconnected security concerns of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic regions, asserting that South Korea cannot remain passive in this situation. Yoon announced that South Korea would implement “phased measures” depending on the level o
f military collaboration observed between North Korea and Russia.
During the call, Rutte articulated his grave concerns regarding the violation of international law and U.N. Security Council resolutions by North Korea’s actions. He affirmed NATO’s readiness to work closely with South Korea and suggested that the South Korean government send a delegation to NATO for more detailed discussions on the matter.
Furthermore, Rutte expressed a desire to enhance defense industry cooperation and security dialogues between South Korea, Ukraine, and NATO members to counteract the implications of North Korean troops supporting Russian forces in Ukraine. In response, President Yoon committed to sending a delegation promptly to improve information sharing and strengthen security cooperation.
The leaders agreed to keep a close watch on any illegal activities, including the transfer of sensitive technology, between Russia and North Korea and to coordinate their responses accordingly. Following their discussion, Rutte share
d on the social media platform X that the deployment of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces marked a significant escalation and underscored the importance of NATO’s partnership with Seoul in addressing these developments.
Security analysts in Seoul have also expressed concerns that North Korea could potentially gain access to advanced missile technologies from Russia, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missile reentry, as part of this military cooperation.