Seoul Considers Military Support for Ukraine Amid North Korean Involvement
In light of concerning reports regarding North Korea’s participation in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, South Korea is contemplating the deployment of a specialized military team from its intelligence units to assist Ukraine. This team would focus on analyzing North Korean warfare tactics and combat capabilities, thereby enhancing Ukraine’s understanding of its adversary.
Additionally, the South Korean government is reportedly weighing the option of providing Ukraine with armed support. Until now, Seoul has primarily extended humanitarian aid to Kyiv, although there have been indications that South Korea has indirectly supplied artillery shells to Ukraine through the United States.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, South Korea’s defense exports have surged significantly. One of its most substantial arms deals occurred in 2022, when a framework agreement with Poland was established, valued at over €20 billion. This deal came in the wake of the war in Ukraine, marking a pivotal moment in South Korea’s arms export history.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, South Korea is now recognized as one of the leading arms exporters globally. Meanwhile, North Korean forces are reportedly preparing to enter the battlefield to support Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, has disclosed that the first contingent of 2,600 North Korean soldiers is set to be deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, an area where Ukraine has maintained significant territorial gains since a surprise incursion in early August.
Ukrainian forces have made recent advances on the western side of the Ukrainian salient in the Kursk region, where intense fighting continues. Budanov has indicated that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and are expected to be “ready to engage” in combat in Ukraine by November 1. South Korean intelligence has also reported that North Korea has dispatched 1,500 soldiers to Russia for training, characterizing this as an initial step in Pyongyang’s involvement in Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine.
No Reason for Concern?
In response to these developments, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to the country, Georgy Zinoviev, to express concerns regarding the deployment of North Korean military personnel to Russia. The Russian Embassy in South Korea attempted to frame this as a voluntary meeting rather than a formal diplomatic summons, claiming that any collaboration between Russia and North Korea is not aimed at undermining Seoul’s security interests.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also downplayed the situation, asserting that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea “should not cause concern” among other nations. He suggested that reports about the supposed presence of North Korean troops in Russia might be “contradictory.”
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- Zelenskyy Claims North Korea’s Support for Russia Could Trigger Global Conflict
Experts indicate that the Kremlin’s efforts to reassure South Korea that its collaboration with North Korea poses no threat to Seoul highlight Moscow’s growing anxiety regarding the potential shift in South Korea’s stance towards providing military support to Ukraine.
