Kremlin worried about South Korea's possible military support for Ukraine ISW analysis

Recent reports indicate that North Korean troops may have been transferred to Russia, prompting the Kremlin to worry that South Korea might provide military assistance to Ukraine.

This assessment comes from analysts at the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), per Caliber.Az.

The analysts note that Russia appears to be making efforts to ease tensions with South Korea following credible reports of increased collaboration between North Korea and Russia. These include warnings from both South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence about North Korean troops being deployed in Russia for training.

In response to these developments, the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev. However, the Russian Embassy in South Korea mischaracterized the meeting as voluntary rather than a diplomatic summons, stating that their cooperation with North Korea "is not directed against the security interests" of Seoul.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also commented that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea "should not cause concern" among other nations and suggested that information regarding the presence of North Korean troops in Russia might be "contradictory."

ISW analysts conclude that the Kremlin’s attempts to reassure South Korea about its relationship with North Korea indicate significant concern over the possibility that South Korea could pivot toward supporting Ukraine militarily. This concern highlights the Kremlin’s apprehension about the potential repercussions of worsening relations with Seoul for Russia's security interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

ISW noted that Russia has previously sought to cultivate ties with Seoul to mitigate its growing dependence on North Korea.

By Tamilla Hasanova