South Korea has called on the Russian ambassador, demanding the "immediate withdrawal" of North Korean troops reportedly being trained to fight in Ukraine. According to Seoul’s intelligence agency, around 1,500 North Korean soldiers, including elite special forces, have already arrived in Russia.
During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun condemned the deployment and warned that South Korea would "respond with all available measures." Zinoviev acknowledged the concerns but maintained that cooperation between Russia and North Korea adhered to "international law," without confirming the presence of North Korean troops.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later reiterated that cooperation between the two nations was "not directed against third countries" and should not cause alarm, as reported by Russian news agency Tass. Meanwhile, North Korea has not commented on the situation.
South Korea has long accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, but officials say the deployment of troops marks a significant escalation. Some South Korean media reports suggest that up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to Russia.
"This development not only threatens South Korea but also the international community," Kim stated on Monday.
The relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened since the signing of a security pact in June between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, pledging mutual assistance in case of external aggression. Last week, Putin introduced legislation to ratify the agreement.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed concern over the possibility of North Korean troops joining the conflict, calling it a "significant escalation." In a phone conversation with Rutte, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged NATO to consider "concrete countermeasures" and pledged to strengthen security cooperation with NATO, Ukraine, and other allies.
Visiting British Foreign Minister David Lammy criticized Russia’s actions as "reckless and illegal," promising to work closely with South Korea in response.
Addressing the issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China hopes all parties will work toward de-escalating tensions and pursuing a political resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Some defense analysts, like Moon Seong-mok of the Korea National Strategy Institute, warn that North Korea’s involvement could further complicate the war and draw in more international participants. He suggested that additional sanctions and pressure on both Russia and North Korea could follow, but the long-term benefits for either country remain uncertain.
Others argue that logistical and operational challenges may limit North Korean troops' effectiveness. Experts point to the language barrier and North Korea's lack of recent combat experience as obstacles. Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of *Defence Express*, speculated that North Korean forces might be assigned to guard areas along the Russian-Ukrainian border, freeing Russian troops for front-line duties. However, he doubted their immediate involvement in active combat.