SEOUL: The top security officials from South Korea and Poland have raised alarms over the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, as concerns mount about potential troop support from Pyongyang to Moscow in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a meeting on Wednesday, National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik of South Korea and his Polish counterpart Jacek Siewiera agreed on the necessity of enhancing their countries’ security and defense industry collaboration as a countermeasure, according to the presidential office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions took place ahead of a summit scheduled for Thursday between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Polish President Andrzej Duda. During their meeting, the security advisers evaluated the security landscapes in both Europe and Asia, centering their talks on the prospect of North Korea dispatching troops to aid Russia. Both officials expressed “serious concerns” over the escalating military cooperation between North Korea and Russia,
stressing the importance of joint actions with the international community to mitigate these security challenges.
In addition, the discussion revisited existing defense cooperation agreements, with both sides committing to ongoing communication to fortify their relationship. Notably, in 2022, Poland secured procurement contracts valued at 17 trillion won (US$12.4 billion) for the acquisition of K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from South Korea, aiming to enhance its defense posture amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Furthermore, South Korea has recently finalized an agreement to acquire suicide drones from Poland, a strategic move to address the increasing threats posed by North Korea.