South Korea, on Tuesday, issued a warning that it might contemplate supplying weapons to Ukraine in light of North Korea’s alleged deployment of troops to Russia, although both North Korea and Russia have denied these claims.
The statement from South Korea appears aimed at dissuading Russia from involving North Korean troops in its conflict with Ukraine.
NATO’s Secretary-General indicated that such a move would represent a significant escalation.
Officials in South Korea are concerned that Russia could reciprocate by providing North Korea with advanced weapon technologies, potentially enhancing the North’s nuclear and missile capabilities that pose a threat to South Korea.
During an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, senior South Korean officials denounced North Korea’s purported troop deployment as “a grave security threat” to both South Korea and the global community.
They characterised North Korea as “a criminal group” that coerces its youth into serving as mercenaries for what they deemed an unjustifiable war, according to a statement from South Korea’s presidential office.
Officials have decided to implement phased countermeasures, with the intensity of their responses dependent on developments in military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as outlined in the statement.
Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has aligned itself with U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and has provided humanitarian and financial assistance to Kyiv. However, it has refrained from directly supplying arms to Ukraine, adhering to its policy of not exporting weapons to nations actively involved in conflicts.
South Korea’s intelligence agency announced last week that it has verified the deployment of 1,500 special operations troops from North Korea to Russia this month. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his government possesses intelligence indicating that 10,000 North Korean soldiers are being readied to support the Russian invasion.
Later on Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will soon be sending experts to Brussels to provide a briefing to ambassadors of the 32-member military alliance.
Rutte stated, “That will now happen early next week, and then we will see whether North Korea is indeed, or not, supporting Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
“If that would be the case, if they would be sending troops to Ukraine, that would mark a significant escalation.”
Frances Ibiefo
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