Seoul Summons Russian Ambassador Over North Korean Troop Deployment to Ukraine

South Korea summoned Russia’s ambassador to Seoul, Georgy Zinoviev, on October 21 in response to reports of North Korean troops being dispatched to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, according to The Guardian.

South Korea has raised concerns that North Korea is preparing to send between 10,000 and 12,000 military personnel to Russia. Some North Korean soldiers have reportedly already arrived in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to collaborate with their Russian counterparts.

South Korea’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun summoned Zinoviev to convey the government’s strong protest. He called for the “immediate withdrawal” of North Korean troops and the cessation of any related military cooperation with Pyongyang, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

Kim condemned the cooperation as a violation of international law, citing UN Security Council resolutions, and warned that South Korea, in coordination with the international community, would respond to any actions that threaten its security.

In June, South Korean officials indicated that they were considering providing military aid to Ukraine due to the growing military ties between Russia and North Korea.

The Kremlin has previously dismissed reports of North Korean troop deployments as false. The United States has not yet confirmed the presence of North Korean forces in Russia or Ukraine, but a senior US lawmaker warned that such a move would cross a “red line” and require immediate action.