South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador to address concerns over Pyongyang’s alleged dispatch of troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean soldiers who have reportedly arrived in Russia.
Seoul expressed grave concerns over the deployment of about 1,500 North Korean special forces soldiers to Russia, with additional troops expected to depart soon. The South Korean spy agency released satellite images showing the soldiers arriving in Vladivostok on Russian military vessels.
South Korea has long accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, leading to a military deal signed between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. Any military cooperation between North Korea and Russia violates UN Security Council resolutions.
The Russian ambassador stated that the cooperation is not aimed at South Korea’s security interests, while the Kremlin spokesperson expressed a desire to continue developing relations with North Korea. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol urged NATO to take concrete countermeasures against the growing Russian-North Korean cooperation.
The United States and the UK also condemned Russia’s actions, with the US warning that the deployment of North Korean troops would be a dangerous development in the conflict. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called for a strong international reaction to the alleged troop deployment.
As tensions continue to rise over North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and considering appropriate responses to ensure stability in the region.
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