South Korean and Ukraine presidents discuss ways to respond North Korea’s military dispatch to Russia over phone

President Yoon Suk-yeol talks over the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on October 29. Courtesy of the presidential office

North Korea and Russia’s cooperation on the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia is progressing rapidly, with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui traveling to Russia. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the phone and discussed ways to respond. Yoon said that he would “take step-by-step countermeasures suitable for the situation,” while Zelensky said that “the war is entering a new phase.”

"The possibility of Russia transferring sensitive military technology to North Korea is also a problem, but if North Korea, which has not fought a modern war since the Korean War, acquires experience from the war in Ukraine and imparts it to the entire North Korean army of more than 1 million soldiers, it is a great threat to our security,” Yon said in a phone call with Zelensky on October 29. “We will not ignore the military ambitions of Russia and North Korea that threaten our security, and we will take effective step-by-step countermeasures while closely observing the situation on the battlefield,” he said, according to the presidential office.

Yoon also said, "North Korea is conducting a dangerous and unprecedented task of dispatching special forces beyond providing military weapons to Russia," adding, "Let's communicate closely and coordinate responses between South Korea and Ukraine, which are direct stakeholders of Russia and North Korea’s military closeness." Zelensky said he would actively share information and expand communication with South Korea.

Zelensky also expressed his gratitude for the decision to send a delegation of the South Korean government to Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Ukrainian government also decided to send a special envoy to South Korea soon.

The presidential office said the two leaders condemned the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the strongest language and decided to move forward with strategic consultations to jointly counter it. “The South Korean government will continue to provide assistance in the areas of security, humanitarian and reconstruction based on the 'Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative' and seek additional cooperation measures for the Ukrainian people with allies,” the presidential office added.

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and her party left Pyongyang on the 28th to make an official visit to Russia.

Choe's trip is expected to include follow-up consultations on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and discuss ways to respond to international pressure. The possibility of coordinating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia is also mentioned.

The Russian Embassy in North Korea also confirmed Choe's visit to Russia on its social media account. It said Choe's visit to Russia is “taking place in the framework of strategic dialogue.”

Referring to the North Korea-Russia summit and the conclusion of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” in June, the Russian Embassy also said, "In-depth consultations on bilateral relations and international political issues will be carried out normally in accordance with the spirit and form of the new basic treaty." Article 2 of the treaty stipulates that “through dialogue and negotiations, including high-level talks, we will exchange views on bilateral relations and international issues of mutual concern, and strengthen joint assistance and cooperation on the international stage.”

At this meeting, the two countries are expected to discuss the issue of jointly responding to the international community's moves to condemn North Korea's military dispatch. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on North Korea's deployment on October 30. An official from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification told reporters on the same day, "There is a possibility that (North Korea and Russia) will coordinate detailed responses regarding the dispatch of North Korean troops."

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed Choi's visit to Russia at a closed-door parliamentary audit of the National Assembly's intelligence committee at the NIS building in Seocho, Seoul, and said the two countries are expected to hold follow-up discussions, including additional dispatch and compensation, through high-level channels.

Some say that the meeting is aimed at coordinating the cooperation measures according to the results of the U.S. presidential election on November 5 and preparing the momentum for future discussions. There is also a possibility that Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia could be discussed. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his intention to invite Kim to Russia during his visit to Pyongyang in June. It is possible that the North Korean foreign minister will meet with Putin in person to deliver Kim's message during the visit.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far East Studies, said, "North Korea's dispatch of troops is becoming more publicized and pressured in the international community faster than expected by North Korea and Russia, creating an agenda for urgent discussions between the two countries." He added, ”The possibility of the North Korean leader visiting Russia before the end of the year should be kept open because the vital interests of the two are at stake.”

“We can't rule out the possibility that (North Korea) will request that its troops not participate in the front line of combat first,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the Graduate School of North Korean Studies. ”There is also a possibility that North Korea will demand that the cost of the deployment be documented.” Experts believe that in exchange for the deployment, North Korea could receive advanced military technology from Russia, including intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) reentry technology and military reconnaissance satellites.

It is also noteworthy that the Korean Central News Agency did not mention the host country when it announced Choe's visit. When Choi traveled to Russia in January, the news outlet said she was “invited by the Russian Foreign Minister.”

Professor Yang said, "It seems that Choe’s visit to Russia was suddenly decided." An official from the Ministry of Unification said, "We expect that the rapid development of North Korea's dispatch of troops has affected it."

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.