South Korean and European Union officials have strongly condemned North Korea's reported troop dispatch to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. The alleged deployment of North Korean soldiers threatens to escalate the conflict and has raised security concerns in South Korea.
In a meeting in Seoul, South Korean Defense Minister and the EU's foreign policy chief expressed serious concerns and strongly condemned North Korea's reported troop dispatch. They have agreed to collaborate with the international community to obstruct any security cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
The U.S. government revealed that around 8,000 North Korean soldiers are near Ukraine's border in Russia, preparing to join the conflict. This potential deployment marks North Korea's first participation in a large-scale conflict since the Korean War.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been leveraging the Russia-Ukraine war to enhance defense and economic ties with Russia amid pressure from the U.S. and its allies over North Korea's nuclear program. Recent satellite images show North Korea building anti-tank structures near the heavily armed border with South Korea.
In response to North Korea's actions, South Korea's military has been closely monitoring the situation and assessing the potential security threats posed by North Korea's recent activities near the border.
North Korea's recent test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to target the U.S. mainland has further heightened tensions in the region.
