South Korea slams North Korea's troop deployment to Russia amid conflict in Ukraine

South Korea strongly condemned North Korea's confirmation of sending troops to Russia to assist in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke, accusing Pyongyang of "mocking" the international community by defending its military deployment as legitimate, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The criticism came after North Korea publicly acknowledged, through its state media, for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia in support of Moscow's actions in Kyiv. The move, according to North Korean officials, was in accordance with a mutual defence agreement between the two nations, which commits them to providing military assistance in the event of an attack.

North Korea justified the decision, stating that it was made at the behest of its leader, Kim Jong-un, and was entirely in line with the treaty’s provisions. Pyongyang’s state media emphasised that the deployment was "fully legitimate" under international law. 

However, South Korea vehemently disagreed with this characterisation. "With their public admission of the deployment, while claiming they are fully in accordance with international law, they are once again mocking the international community. We strongly condemn this action," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

The South Korean government further warned that the dispatch of North Korean troops, coupled with the broader military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, represents a significant violation of international norms, including the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions. 

"Such actions constitute a grave threat to global peace and stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe," the South Korean government said in its statement.

It called for both Russia and North Korea to "immediately cease their unlawful military cooperation." South Korea also stressed its commitment to working with the international community to address any threats to its national security, promising to take "all necessary measures" in response to any actions that undermine regional and global stability.

By Naila Huseynova