South Korea Warns of Russian Tech Transfers for North Korean Troops

South Korea issued strong condemnation on Monday over reports that North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Alongside the EU, the nation expressed deep concerns that Russia might compensate North Korea with transfers of sensitive technology, potentially advancing Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

North Korea’s deployment of troops, confirmed by both the U.S. and NATO, risks widening the nearly three-year-long conflict in Ukraine, and has sparked security concerns in South Korea and beyond.

The move has heightened anxieties over potential rewards that Russia might offer North Korea in exchange, including sensitive military technology that could bolster Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Are South Korea and the EU Working Together?

Following discussions in Seoul, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell released a joint statement condemning North Korea’s troop deployment in the “strongest possible terms.”

The statement also expressed deep concerns about the possibility of Russia supplying North Korea with materials and technology that could advance Pyongyang’s military ambitions.

“We are also deeply concerned about the possibility for any transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to the DPRK, which would jeopardize the international non-proliferation efforts and threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the globe,” the statement said.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name.

Is It Legal for Russia and North Korea to Fight Together Against Ukraine?

Cho and Borrell labeled North Korea’s troop deployment a “flagrant” breach of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, urging both North Korea and Russia to promptly withdraw these forces from Russian territory.

Earlier on Monday, Borrell held discussions with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, where both agreed to collaborate with the international community to curb security cooperation between Russia and North Korea, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.

North Korea and Russia have not officially confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops. However, both nations assert that their military cooperation adheres to international laws.

The U.S. government reports that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia near Ukraine’s border, preparing to join the conflict in the coming days.

What Does Ukraine Say About North Korea Helping Russia?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged allies to move beyond passive observation and take proactive measures, before these North Korean troops engage on the battlefield.

Intelligence assessments from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine estimate that North Korea has deployed approximately 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia.

Should these forces engage in combat against Ukrainian troops, it would signify North Korea’s first involvement in a major conflict since the Korean War ended in 1953.

Why Is North Korea Helping Russia?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has leveraged the Russia-Ukraine conflict to deepen defense and economic ties with Russia, countering intensified U.S.-led pressure on his advancing nuclear program.

The United States, South Korea, and other nations accuse North Korea of supplying artillery shells, missiles, and other conventional arms to Russia.

In addition to concerns over possible weapons technology transfers from Russia, South Korean officials worry that Moscow could extend a defense commitment to North Korea should conflict arise on the Korean Peninsula.

The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia presents further risks, as these forces could gain valuable combat experience and receive Russian assistance in modernizing North Korea’s outdated conventional weapon systems.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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