South Korea has taken a strong stance by summoning the Russian ambassador to Seoul to express its deep concern over the reported involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Kim Hong-kyun, South Korea’s first vice-foreign minister, emphasized to Georgy Zinoviev, the Russian envoy, that such military cooperation violated UN resolutions and demanded an immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops.
The deployment of these troops poses a significant threat not only to South Korea but also to other nations, prompting a united response from the international community against actions that jeopardize core security interests.
The decision to call in Zinoviev underscores the growing outrage in South Korea, Ukraine, and the US regarding this secret military agreement between Russia and North Korea.
The Guardian view on North Koreans in Ukraine: a Russian war is using foreign labour | EditorialRead more
According to South Korea’s national intelligence service, an initial group of 1,500 special forces personnel from North Korea was sent for training in Russia’s far east before being deployed for active duty in Ukraine.
Reports suggest that up to 12,000 special forces could be sent by North Korea to support Russia amid concerns about losses among Russian troops and insufficient replacements.
Satellite images released by the intelligence service show elite North Korean soldiers being transported by Russian military vessels to Vladivostok as part of their military participation agreement with Russia.
2024-10-21 07:03:00
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