South Korea
South Korea has raised “grave concern” over Russia’s initiative to solidify a defense pact with North Korea, particularly in light of allegations that North Korea is supplying troops to Moscow for potential deployment in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This apprehension was underscored after Russia’s lower house of parliament voted unanimously to endorse a treaty that establishes a framework of “mutual assistance” between Moscow and Pyongyang in the event of an attack on either party.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the developments, strongly urging the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and the cessation of what it termed “illegal cooperation” between the two nations.
In a statement released on Friday, the ministry emphasized that the South Korean government would collaborate with the international community to respond firmly to any military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, promising to take appropriate measures as their collaboration progresses.
This condemnation followed a statement from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who characterized the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia as a “provocation that threatens global security.”
During a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Yoon highlighted the possibility of providing military assistance to Ukraine if North Korean special forces were dispatched to participate in the conflict alongside Russian forces.
He mentioned that while South Korea has maintained a policy of not supplying lethal weapons directly, the situation could be reassessed based on the level of military activity from North Korea.
U.S. and South Korean officials reported on Wednesday that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops are stationed at various locations within Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency indicated that North Koreans who had received training in Russia had already been deployed to the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine and has been a focal point of significant combat activity.
At the BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed inquiries regarding satellite images that allegedly showed North Korean troop movements.
During this conference, Putin, who had previously established a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to Pyongyang in June, stated that the implementation of the mutual defense clause was “our business.”
In a contrasting narrative, North Korea’s mission to the United Nations in New York dismissed the allegations of troop deployment to Russia as “groundless, stereotyped rumors,” further complicating the diplomatic discourse surrounding the burgeoning ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The situation remains tense as global powers monitor the implications of this defense pact and its potential impact on regional and international security.
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