In Response to North Korea's Aid to Moscow; South Korea Threatens to Send Weapons to Ukraine

Following reports claiming the deployment of military personnel from North Korea to assist the Russian army in the war against Ukraine, Seoul threatened to send weapons and equipment to Ukraine in response to this action by Pyongyang. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, citing an unidentified presidential official, that Seoul would consider sending weapons to Ukraine 'for defense and attack' in retaliation for its northern neighbor's actions. The report also mentioned that South Korea might send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine to analyze North Korean combat methods and assist in interrogating potential North Korean prisoners in the region. Recently, reports have emerged about the presence of North Korean military forces within Ukrainian territory to aid the Russian army. Some reports even indicate the deaths or injuries of North Korean soldiers and officers. Last week, South Korea's intelligence agency announced that the northern neighbor has sent approximately 1,500 special forces to Russia to join the fight against Ukraine and intends to send a total of about 12,000 troops for this purpose. U.S. officials and NATO have stated that they cannot confirm the deployment of North Korean troops to assist Russia in the war against Ukraine, but they condemn the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Meanwhile, South Korea's National Security Council issued a statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean soldiers from Russia and promised to take 'reciprocal actions,' although it did not specify the details of these actions. The U.S. has labeled the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for the war against Ukraine as 'dangerous.'