DP Leader Criticizes Government’s Plan to Monitor North Korean Troops in Ukraine

SEOUL: Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has voiced strong objections to the South Korean government's consideration of sending officials to Kyiv to monitor North Korean troops. During a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Lee, who leads the main opposition Democratic Party, expressed concerns over the government's intentions, accusing it of covertly planning to dispatch personnel under the guise of an inspection team. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee criticized the government for potentially escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He suggested that the idea of South Korean personnel being sent to Ukraine is part of a broader strategy that could exacerbate regional conflicts, especially in light of North Korea's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. Lee also opposed the notion of providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, equating it with direct participation in the conflict. President Yoon Suk Yeol recently indicated that South Korea might consider supplying arms to Ukraine, emphasizing the country's unwillingness to "sit idle" in response to North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. This stance has drawn criticism from Lee, who reiterated his opposition to such measures. Reports of South Korea's National Intelligence Service planning to send an interrogation team to question North Korean prisoners of war have also been met with resistance from Lee. He questioned the rationale behind such actions, describing them as irrational. Despite his criticisms, Lee condemned North Korea's deployment of soldiers to the war, urging Pyongyang to withdraw its troops. The National Intelligence Service disclosed last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, with an additional 10,000 expected by December. The United States has corroborated these figures, confirming the presence of at least 3,000 North Korean troops in eastern Russia this month.