This file photograph, launched by North Korea’s official Korean Central Information Company on Oct. 6, 2024, reveals a live-fire train going down at an artillery college in North Korea. (Yonhap)
The protection ministry mentioned Wednesday it’s “intently” monitoring for indicators of North Korea presumably sending troops to assist Russia in its warfare in opposition to Ukraine, following media stories of Russia forming a battalion of North Koreans.
Ukrainian media shops earlier reported that Russia is organizing a particular battalion that’s anticipated to incorporate as much as 3,000 North Koreans because of manpower shortages amid considerations over deepening navy cooperation between the 2 nations.
“As there’s a chance of (North Korea) offering troops or civilian personnel, that is being intently monitored,” a ministry official mentioned when requested concerning the stories.
The Nationwide Intelligence Service additionally mentioned it’s working to confirm the stories whereas retaining in thoughts that “the stories could also be true.”
“(We) are additionally cooperating with Ukraine to verify the stories,” the spy company mentioned.
A international ministry official mentioned the federal government is monitoring indicators of navy cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and famous Seoul’s “deep concern” over the stories of the cooperation increasing past arms commerce to troop deployment.
“Any cooperation that not directly or straight helps North Korea strengthen its navy pressure is a violation of U.N. Safety Council resolutions,” the official mentioned. “(We) as soon as once more urge for the halt to the unlawful navy cooperation between Russia and North Korea.”
South Korea, the US and others have accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia to gas its warfare in Ukraine in violation of U.N. Safety Council resolutions in opposition to the North over its missile and nuclear packages.
Final week, Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun informed lawmakers that the North is more likely to deploy troops to Ukraine in assist of Russia, after Ukrainian media reported that six North Koreans had been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on Russian-occupied territory earlier this month.
Moscow and Pyongyang have lately solid nearer ties, with President Vladimir Putin and North Korean chief Kim Jong-un signing a brand new partnership treaty that features a mutual protection clause throughout their summit in Pyongyang in June. (Yonhap)
