South Korea Vows to Counter Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation Amid Ukraine Conflict
South Korea has pledged to take decisive action to counter growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, despite denials from Pyongyang, Al Jazeera reports.
This decision comes following claims that North Korea has allegedly deployed troops to side with Russian forces in Ukraine, a claim vehemently denied by Pyongyang.
On Tuesday, South Korean officials declared the alliance between Russia and North Korea an international threat, vowing to work with allies to implement countermeasures, potentially including providing arms to Ukraine. This announcement follows the summoning of the Russian ambassador on Monday after Seoul accused North Korea of sending 1,500 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces. North Korea dismissed these allegations as “groundless rumours.”
A senior official in President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office revealed that diplomatic, economic, and military measures are being prepared, including a potential reversal of South Korea’s previous decision not to send arms to Kyiv.
North Korea has repeatedly denied accusations from both South Korea and the United States that it has been supplying weapons to Russia. Late on Monday, Pyongyang slammed Seoul’s latest accusation, claiming it was aimed at “smearing the image of [the country] and undermining the legitimate, friendly and cooperative relations between two sovereign states.”
While Russia has not confirmed Pyongyang’s troop deployment, it has defended its military cooperation with North Korea, stating on Monday that it “is not directed against the interests of South Korea’s security.”
