South Korean President Convenes Emergency Meeting on North Korean Troop Deployment to Russia

SEOUL: President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea convened an emergency security meeting on Friday following reports that North Korea has decided to send troops to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, according to the South Korean presidential office. According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting included high-level officials from the National Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The focus was on discussing the implications of North Korea's purported troop deployment. The NIS disclosed that North Korea has recently resolved to deploy four brigades, which total approximately 12,000 soldiers, including special forces, to participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine. This move marks North Korea's first significant dispatch of ground forces abroad. The presidential office release highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting the evolution of military relations between Russia and North Korea from mere military supply transfers to actual troop deployme nts, which poses a significant threat to both South Korean and global security. The officials convened in the meeting resolved to respond actively, pledging to mobilize all available resources in cooperation with the international community to address this issue. Further reports from South Korea indicate that the country has been meticulously monitoring North Korea's troop movements to Russia from the onset, in coordination with its allies. South Korea remains committed to continuing surveillance and taking proactive measures as necessary. Adding to the concerns, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Ukrainian intelligence has identified the presence of North Korean personnel in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. He also noted preparations for an additional 10,000 North Korean troops to be deployed. Earlier in the month, Ukrainian media reported the death of six North Koreans in the Donetsk region following a Ukrainian missile strike on October 3, a claim that Russia has d enied, refuting the use of North Korean troops in the war.