**MOFA: “Violation of Security Council Resolutions… Urging Russia-North Korea to Cease Illegal Military Cooperation”**
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for an end to illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, stating that such actions are a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
On October 16th, the Ministry of National Defense addressed reports that North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine. They stated, “We are closely monitoring the possibility of military or civilian personnel being provided.”
A Foreign Ministry official added, “The government has been carefully observing the trends in Russia-North Korea military cooperation, including the latest reports that suggest the cooperation is expanding from weapons trade to weapons production and the dispatch of military personnel.”
The official emphasized, “Any cooperation that directly or indirectly contributes to the enhancement of North Korea’s military capabilities is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and subject to international scrutiny and sanctions. We once again call for the cessation of illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.”
Previously, Ukrainian media reported that the Russian military, currently invading Ukraine, has organized and is operating a battalion-sized unit of around 3,000 North Korean troops.
Additionally, on October 3, a Ukrainian news outlet reported that among the 20 Russian personnel killed by Ukrainian missile strikes on the Donetsk front, six were identified as North Korean soldiers.