Government: "If North Korean Troops Are Deployed to Russia, This Constitutes Participation in the War"

Rumors of North Korean Troop Deployment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Calls It a "Very Serious Matter"

Amid ongoing allegations that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to the Russian battlefield, the government expressed concern that if these circumstances are true, it would constitute not just simple military cooperation but actual participation in the war.

Lee Jae-woong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 17th, "We are closely monitoring related developments with the possibility in mind that reports about North Korea’s deployment to Russia may be true, and we are making efforts to verify the facts." He added, "If these reports are true, it means that North Korea is not only engaging in arms transactions with Russia but also directly participating in the war, which our government views as a very serious matter."

Lee Jae-woong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is holding a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 17th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The spokesperson warned, "Any cooperation that directly or indirectly aids North Korea’s military buildup violates United Nations Security Council resolutions," and emphasized, "The government has made it clear that this is subject to international monitoring and sanctions, and we once again urge the cessation of illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea."

On the 16th (local time), the British BBC cited military sources reporting that some North Korean troops are stationed in the area north of Vladivostok, Russia. Ukrainian media Kyiv Post previously reported that about 3,000 North Korean soldiers are forming a battalion-level unit under a Russian airborne brigade.

The 'North Korean troop deployment' issue surfaced earlier this month following local reports of North Korean soldiers dying in the Russian-occupied area of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even stated that "North Korea is the second country to participate in the war on Russia’s side."

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[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government is reportedly concerned that North Korea could gain 'war experience' through deployment to Russia, as it allows for testing weapon performance and verifying tactical elements on the actual battlefield.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We are continuing efforts to verify the facts regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to the battlefield," adding, "It is difficult to share specific details at this stage." However, the official added, "If the reports are true, we consider it equivalent to participation in the war and view the situation very seriously."

Regarding the recent incident where an unidentified drone penetrated Pyongyang’s air defense network and Russia’s subsequent criticism of South Korea on North Korea’s behalf, the official said, "We are communicating with Russia," but refrained from further comment. The government also maintains that it is keeping necessary communication channels open with allies such as the United States, as well as with Russia and Ukraine, concerning the North Korean troop deployment allegations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.