Is the war of aggression against Ukraine expanding to the next international level? After both NATO and the US confirmed the preparation of North Korean soldiers in Russia, the South Korean president now also wants to respond.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul has announced that South Korea cannot remain inactive regarding the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia. “I don’t think we are in a position where we can stand idly by if this becomes a threat to our security,” Cho said at a parliamentary hearing in Seoul.
South Korean options on the table
When asked by a lawmaker whether the South Korean government would also consider sending weapons directly to Ukraine, the top diplomat said all options were on the table. The specific measures would depend, among other things, on the consideration North Korea would receive from Russia. So far, South Korea has not supplied Ukraine with heavy weapons, fearing an escalation of the conflict.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called the sending of North Korean soldiers to Russia a “provocation” and announced a response. “South Korea will not sit idle,” Yoon said Thursday after talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda. Both countries agree that the deployment is a provocation “that threatens global security beyond the Korean Peninsula and Europe.”
Concerns about cooperation with Russia
According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea has already sent a total of 3,000 soldiers. The troops are therefore in military facilities in Russia, where they are probably being prepared for an operation against Ukraine. There is great concern in South Korea that North Korea could emerge militarily strengthened from its cooperation with Russia.
The US government also says it has reliable information that North Korean troops are in Russia. What they do there remains to be seen, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Dangerous ties between Kim and Putin
Meanwhile, the Russian parliament ratified the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed with North Korea. The agreement takes military cooperation between the two countries to a new level and stipulates that North Korea and Russia will assist each other if either country is attacked. “The treaty takes full account of the current geopolitical situation,” said Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the agreement in Pyongyang in June. The US views the alliance as dangerous and has repeatedly accused Pyongyang of providing Putin with ammunition and weapons in his war.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
