On the 17th local time, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong commented on foreign media reports that North Korea has dispatched troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine war. He stated, “Although there is no confirmed information on how many North Korean soldiers are on the battlefield, it is highly likely that such a situation has already occurred.” On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting the European Union (EU) summit, claimed there is intelligence confirming that North Korea is preparing to send about 10,000 troops to support Russia.
Ambassador Cho made these remarks during a seminar held by the Hudson Institute in the U.S., on the theme of strengthening the industrial base of alliances. He said, “If true, this issue should be addressed seriously not only by the U.S. and South Korea but also by other allied nations, including NATO member states. We need to coordinate our efforts.” He added, “We should consult after further confirming the information,” but also noted, “Russia’s reliance on North Korea for weapon supplies shows how interconnected security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is.”
Ambassador Cho further noted, “North Korea showed hostility by blowing up the inter-Korean road earlier this week.” Although largely symbolic, he evaluated it as indicating North Korea’s deliberate positioning as a threat across two theaters on both sides of the globe. He emphasized, “It is crucial for the industries of Korea, Europe, and the United States to join forces and strengthen cooperation and defense capabilities. This will allow us to respond effectively and in a coordinated manner to the various challenges we face.”
The military cooperation between Russia, which has invaded Ukraine, and North Korea has become increasingly conspicuous recently. Back in June, a North Korea-Russia treaty was signed, elevating their relationship to a level akin to a military alliance, and suspicions from the international community that North Korea is supplying ammunition and other weapons to Russia persist. Amidst this, Ukraine has repeatedly claimed that North Korea has dispatched force to support Russian troops in Ukraine.
At a press conference following the EU summit in Brussels, President Zelensky stated, “According to our intelligence, North Korea is preparing a total of about 10,000 personnel, including ground troops and technicians, to side with Russia and fight against Ukraine.” He explained, “Russia is experiencing significant troop losses and is seeking to compensate for this by involving another country in the war.” Zelensky mentioned that he discussed this issue with leaders from the U.S. and EU, expressing strong concern by saying, “The involvement of a ‘second country’ in the war is a very urgent issue. It could be the first step towards a world war.”
While visiting NATO, he provided additional information, stating, “There is intelligence indicating that 10,000 troops are being prepared in North Korea, but this force has not yet moved to Ukraine or Russia.” He added that they would raise the issue with more information regarding troop movements. Previously, Ukrainian media reported that Russia had organized and was operating a battalion-sized unit of about 3,000 North Korean troops. The U.S. and other Western countries have expressed significant concern regarding North Korea’s troop dispatch, although the exact facts have yet to be confirmed. On the other hand, Russia has dismissed Ukraine’s claims as fake news.