Seoul: The presidential office announced on Wednesday that South Korea will commence discussions with Ukraine this week regarding a visit by Kyiv’s special envoy. This move comes as both nations aim to enhance their responses to North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a senior official from the presidential office revealed intelligence assessments by South Korea and its allies, indicating that at least 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia. Some of these troops have been stationed in Russia’s western region, near the border with Ukraine. In a recent phone call with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his intention to send a special delegation to South Korea to coordinate actions in response to North Korea’s troop movements.
The official, speaking anonymously, stated that it would take a day or two for Ukraine to designate a special envoy and finalize plans for the visit. South Korea is contemplating dispatching a tea
m to monitor North Korean military activities in battlefields, assessing the potential security implications. Concerns have been raised that North Korea might receive military technology from Russia in exchange for troop deployment, posing a “direct military threat” to South Korea.
The official suggested that discussions with the Ukrainian government could extend beyond monitoring North Korean military activities to include issues such as psychological agitation and desertion among soldiers. When questioned about the possibility of South Korea providing 155-millimeter artillery shells to Ukraine, the official clarified that no such request has been made by Ukraine, nor is it currently under consideration. However, weapons for defensive purposes could be considered.
Last week, President Yoon indicated that South Korea might consider sending arms to Ukraine, depending on the level of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Furthermore, the official noted that North Korean soldiers appear to be wear
ing Russian military uniforms and equipment, suggesting their integration into Russia’s military system.
To prevent social unrest, the Pyongyang regime has reportedly restricted mobile phone use among military officers and informed families of deployed soldiers that they are participating in training exercises. Regarding the possibility of North Korea conducting a nuclear test around the U.S. presidential election next month, the official mentioned that it could happen at any time, although no urgent signs of preparation have been observed.