SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In a notable development highlighting the strengthening alliance between North Korea and Russia, North Korea announced on Tuesday that its chief diplomatic official is currently visiting Russia. This comes amidst growing concerns from South Korea and Western nations regarding the North’s reported dispatch of approximately 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, a diplomatic delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui departed for Russia on Monday. However, the agency remained silent on the specific agenda for Choe’s visit. In a recent closed-door session held at South Korea’s parliament, officials from the South’s intelligence agency indicated that Choe may be engaged in crucial discussions concerning the deployment of additional North Korean troops to Russia, as well as negotiating potential benefits in return for this support, as elaborated by Lee Seong-kweun, a lawmaker who participated in the deliberations.
The announcement of Choe’s diplomatic mission coincided with a statement from the Pentagon, revealing that North Korea has already sent around 10,000 troops to Russia, who are expected to enter the combat zone against Ukraine within the forthcoming weeks.
South Korean and Western officials have voiced significant apprehension that North Korean military involvement could extend the duration of Russia’s aggressive campaign in Ukraine. Furthermore, there are fears that in exchange for this military assistance, Russia might provide advanced military technology, further amplifying the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities.
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated that a “relatively small number” of North Korean troops are currently stationed in the Kursk region, where Russian forces have encountered challenges in repelling Ukrainian advances. He refrained from disclosing specific troop numbers but mentioned that additional North Korean battalions are en route to that region, emphasizing the evolving nature of this military collaboration.
“As of right now, it remains to be seen exactly how the Russians and the North Koreans will employ these forces,” Ryder remarked, while also noting that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and their South Korean counterparts would be discussing this deployment during their upcoming meetings in Washington.
In a comprehensive intelligence briefing, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service revealed that it is probing the possibility that certain groups of North Korean military personnel, including high-ranking officials, may have already been deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine. The agency noted the apparent difficulties in communication between the two nations, although Russian military personnel are reportedly providing training to North Korean forces on military terminology.
Furthermore, North Korea is believed to be receiving Russian assistance in the realm of space-based reconnaissance. This comes as North Korea is preparing for another attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite after a previous effort fell short in May. Park Sun-won, another lawmaker present at the intelligence hearing, stated that ongoing discussions suggest North Korea is on the cusp of acquiring advanced technological components from Russia to bolster its surveillance capabilities.
North Korea secured its first successful placement of a spy satellite into orbit last November. Kim Jong Un has emphasized the strategic importance of these surveillance assets for monitoring military operations by South Korea and the United States, thereby reinforcing the threat level posed by North Korea’s missile capabilities.
In a recent telephone discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol articulated the potential disadvantages of deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, labeling it a potential “major security threat” to South Korea. This is particularly concerning if North Korea can secure advanced technology from Russia, thereby enhancing its combat experience through active engagement in the conflict.
The two leaders have confirmed their intention to facilitate government delegations as part of efforts aimed at bolstering communication and coordination in response to the ongoing conflict, as highlighted by Yoon’s office.
In previous communications with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Yoon emphasized the urgent need for more rigorous coordination with European nations to effectively monitor and obstruct illicit exchanges between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Initially, both Pyongyang and Moscow dismissed allegations regarding the deployment of North Korean troops. However, they have since adopted a more ambiguous stance, asserting that their military collaboration adheres to international law without explicitly acknowledging the presence of North Korean forces on Russian soil.
Additionally, North Korea stands accused of supplying millions of artillery shells and various military equipment to Russia, further fueling its offensive in Ukraine. The United States and its allies have characterized the procurement of North Korean military resources by Russia as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, expressing concern that Moscow is aiding Pyongyang in evading sanctions and illegally funding its weapons programs.
Russia and China have actively obstructed U.S.-led initiatives aimed at tightening sanctions on North Korea in response to its escalated missile testing practices that surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia’s veto of a U.N. resolution that aimed to extend the mandate of monitors in March effectively removed oversight by U.N. experts regarding sanctions against North Korea, inviting criticism from Western nations who accuse Moscow of shielding its arms procurement efforts from Pyongyang.
“The illegal military collusion between Russia and North Korea poses a significant security threat to the international community and highlights a serious issue that could jeopardize our own security. We must thoroughly evaluate all potential scenarios and devise comprehensive countermeasures,” President Yoon asserted during a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Tuesday.
In light of these developments, Yoon recently entertained the possibility of supplying Ukraine with weapons. He indicated that South Korea is formulating counter-strategies that would be implemented gradually, dependent on the level of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
As a burgeoning arms exporter, South Korea has extended humanitarian assistance and other forms of non-lethal support to Ukraine, aligning itself with U.S.-led economic sanctions imposed against Russia. However, it has remained firm in its longstanding policy of refraining from supplying arms to nations engaged in active conflicts, such as Ukraine.
