Seoul counters North Korean troops in Russia with Ukraine aid
The South Korean government plans to send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine in response to North Korea sending soldiers to Russia.
22 October 2024 08:21
Seoul is considering the possibility of sending soldiers, intelligence officers specializing in North Korea, and enemy tactics experts to Ukraine. This move is a reaction to reports of North Korean soldiers participating in the war on Russia's side.
According to local media, citing a representative of South Korean intelligence, personnel from Seoul would assist in interrogating and translating if Ukrainian armed forces capture North Korean soldiers. Additionally, specialists from South Korea would provide information on military tactics, doctrine, and operations of North Korea.
On Monday, the South Korean Ministry of Defense said it would consider potential arms supplies to Ukraine. Previously, Seoul had only provided Kyiv with humanitarian aid.
The authorities also informed that they will send a delegation to NATO to exchange information on the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. "Seoul will take active countermeasures depending on the development of the situation," it announced.
Kim sends "large troops"
On Friday, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea decided to send 12,000 special forces soldiers to Russia, of which 1,500 are already on Russian territory.
The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Pyongyang intends to prepare 10,000 soldiers to fight on Russia's side. He also warned that North Korea's involvement could be the first step towards the outbreak of a world war.
According to RBC-Ukraine sources in special services, yesterday in the Komarytsky district of the Bryansk region, Russian forces detained 18 North Korean soldiers attempting to flee from positions in the Kursk region. They may now be used in actions against Ukrainian armed forces.
