South Korea issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine in response to allegations of North Korea sending troops to Russia. Both North Korea and Russia have denied these movements, with NATO's secretary general emphasizing that such actions would represent a significant escalation.
The South Korean government's statement aimed to pressure Russia against involving North Korean troops in the conflict with Ukraine. Officials expressed concerns that Russia might reward North Korea with advanced weapons technologies, potentially enhancing the North's nuclear and missile programs targeting South Korea.
During an emergency National Security Council meeting, top South Korean officials condemned North Korea's alleged troop dispatch as a severe security threat to both South Korea and the international community. They characterized North Korea as a criminal group coercing its youth to serve as mercenaries for Russia in an unjustifiable war.
The officials agreed on potential phased countermeasures, including diplomatic, economic, and military options. South Korea could contemplate providing defensive and offensive weapons to Ukraine, depending on the progress of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
A senior South Korean presidential official highlighted concerns about North Korea acquiring advanced Russian technologies to enhance its nuclear missile capabilities. The official also underscored the potential security risks posed by Russia assisting North Korea in modernizing its conventional weapons systems and acquiring a space-based surveillance system.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has supported U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and provided humanitarian and financial aid to Kyiv. However, it has refrained from directly supplying arms to Ukraine in line with its policy of not arming countries actively involved in conflicts.
South Korea's spy agency recently confirmed the dispatch of 1,500 North Korean special operation forces to Russia, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed intelligence suggesting the preparation of 10,000 North Korean soldiers to join Russian forces.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced that South Korea would send experts to Brussels to brief ambassadors on the situation, emphasizing the potential escalation if North Korea indeed supports Russia's actions in Ukraine.
North Korea and Russia have significantly enhanced their cooperation in recent years, signing a defense deal in June that mandates immediate military assistance in case of an attack. South Korea has expressed readiness to provide arms to Ukraine in response to this growing collaboration.
Despite South Korea's claims, both North Korea and Russia have denied the troop deployment and alleged weapons transfer. At a U.N. Security Council meeting, Russian and North Korean representatives dismissed these assertions as Western scaremongering.
In response to criticisms from North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un's sister, who labeled South Korea and Ukraine as 'lunatics,' the U.S. and NATO have not confirmed the North Korean troop deployment, expressing concerns over the potential risks associated with such actions.
