N. Korea’s Troop Deployment to Russia Could Happen ‘Sooner Than Expected,’ Yoon Warns

SEOUL: President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Monday that North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine might occur "sooner than expected," marking a significant escalation in international tensions. According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon disclosed details about North Korea's military movements during a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This discussion followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's warning that North Korean forces could join the battlefield against Ukraine imminently. Yoon criticized the military alliance between Russia and North Korea, stating, "This unlawful military cooperation between Russia and North Korea fundamentally undermines the rules-based international order and poses a threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and globally." He urged for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and pledged to explore "practical response measures" in collaboration with the European Union and its member nations. He further elaborated that South Korea would implement "phased measures" contingent on the progression of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. This development follows Yoon's earlier indication that Seoul might consider supplying arms to Kyiv, marking a potential shift from its current policy of providing only humanitarian aid. South Korean and U.S. officials have reported that North Korea has already dispatched approximately 3,000 troops to eastern Russia, with South Korea's intelligence agency forecasting a potential deployment of up to 10,000 soldiers by December. During the call, Ursula von der Leyen expressed "serious concerns" over the troop deployment, highlighting its violation of international law and U.N. Security Council resolutions, as reported by Yoon's office. Von der Leyen labeled the situation as "grave," indicating it further exacerbates the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and emphasized the EU's willingness to collaborate actively with South Korea to tackle the growi ng security threats. Additionally, she acknowledged Seoul's efforts in dispatching a high-level delegation to NATO and the EU to provide detailed insights about North Korea's troop deployment in Russia. On Monday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte received a briefing from this delegation, confirming the presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region of Russia, a critical area in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.