South Korea Condemns Russia-North Korea Defense Pact, Urges Immediate Troop Withdrawal
Seoul strongly urges immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia
South Korea has expressed "grave concern" over Russia's efforts to finalize a defense pact with North Korea, which has been accused of sending troops to assist Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
On Thursday, Russia's lower house of parliament unanimously endorsed a treaty committing Moscow and Pyongyang to mutual assistance in the event of an attack. The upper house is expected to approve it soon. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by urging the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and the end of illegal cooperation, vowing to work with the international community to address the growing military collaboration between Russia and North Korea.
President Yoon Suk Yeol also condemned the deployment of North Korean forces as a "provocation that threatens global security." Yoon raised the possibility of supplying Ukraine with weapons, stating that while South Korea has refrained from directly supplying lethal arms, it could reconsider this stance depending on North Korea’s military activities.
Reports suggest 3,000 North Korean troops are present in Russia, and Ukraine’s military intelligence noted their deployment in the Kursk region, a key battleground near the Ukrainian border. Despite satellite images showing potential troop movements, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed concerns, saying it was Russia’s business how they handle the defense agreement with Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, North Korea's mission to the UN dismissed the allegations as "groundless, stereotyped rumors."
