Russia-North Korea military cooperation a serious security threat: Seoul
Last Updated on November 1, 2024 10:05 am
Recent military cooperation initiatives between North Korea and Russia pose a major security risk to the international community, South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol said on Tuesday after a cabinet meeting in Seoul.
Earlier, Yun said, based on South Korea’s intelligence assessment, North Korean troops could be seen on the battlefield in Ukraine sooner than previously thought.
In this regard, the US Department of Defense said on Monday that North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia for training, more than three times the previous estimate.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at the Pentagon, “We believe the DPRK has sent a total of 10,000 troops to eastern Russia, which could be used to reinforce Russian forces near Ukraine over the next several weeks.” He used the initials of North Korea’s official name in making the comments.
NATO confirmed on Monday that 3,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Russia to help Moscow fight Ukraine. The troops were deployed in the Kursk region of Russia, where Kiev forces launched a surprise attack in August and still occupy the Russian territory.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea was a threat to the security of both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.
Rutte made the comments after NATO officials and diplomats were briefed by a delegation of South Korean intelligence and military officials in Brussels.
Pentagon official Singh warned that if we see DPRK troops approaching or entering the battlefield, they will be considered participants in the war.
Source: Reuters