Media: Yoon, Trump mull North Korean military ties with Russia in phone call

In a phone conversation between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President-elect Donald Trump, the two leaders discussed the rising presence of North Korean troops in Russia, expressing concerns over Pyongyang's growing military collaboration with Moscow.

Speaking at a televised press conference on November 7, Yoon emphasised South Korea’s commitment to maintaining peace, stating that the country would "defend its peace by establishing a perfect security posture" in partnership with the new administration in Washington, Caliber.Az reports per Bloomberg.

South Korea currently hosts approximately 28,500 US troops, a key deterrent against North Korean aggression.

Details of the discussions regarding North Korea were not disclosed by the South Korean president’s office following the call. However, the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia to support its military operations in Ukraine has raised alarms about the potential expansion of the ongoing conflict, which is already the largest in Europe since World War II.

Thus, during the US election campaign, Trump had promised to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” by facilitating negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Yoon and Trump also agreed to meet in person soon, with the South Korean president reiterating his intention to strengthen ties with the US under Trump’s administration, while also addressing a variety of domestic issues in his televised address.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have confirmed that their forces clashed with North Korean soldiers for the first time, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov revealed that a "small group" of North Korean soldiers had been attacked. According to US officials, the incident occurred on November 4 in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukrainian forces are engaged.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had previously criticised the West for its lack of action regarding North Korean troops in the region, described the clash as a troubling development. He stated that these "first battles with North Korea" would "open a new chapter of instability in the world."

However, South Korea has downplayed the severity of the incident, with officials stating that they "do not believe the troops from both sides engaged in direct combat." Instead, Seoul described it as an "incident" involving a small number of North Korean soldiers near the frontline.

Ukraine claims that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in the Kursk region, which lies along the border where Ukrainian forces maintain a presence.

Recent intelligence from South Korea, the US, and NATO has suggested that North Korean troops have been actively involved in Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have yet to issue any official statements in response to these allegations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev