Ukraine, South Korea agree to strengthen intelligence cooperation in response to North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war

Ukraine and South Korea have agreed to intensify contacts at all levels in response to the involvement of North Korean troops in the war alongside Russia. It includes strengthening the exchange of intelligence between the two countries, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a phone conversation with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to Militarnyi. 

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, North Korea has supplied Moscow with at least 11,000 containers of ammunition, including approximately 2 million artillery rounds since 2023. Additionally, South Korea’s intelligence reports say Pyongyang has sent 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to deploy 10,000 by December. According to the Ukrainian military, the first North Korean units, after training at Russia’s eastern grounds, have already arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast combat zone.

During the recent call, Zelenskyy and Yeol also agreed to develop a strategy for action and a list of countermeasures in response to the escalation, as well as to engage joint partners in their cooperation.

As part of this agreement, Ukraine and South Korea will soon exchange delegations to coordinate further actions.

“The Ukrainian side will need a day or two to appoint a special representative and finalize the plan for the visit and negotiations here,” a South Korean presidential office official said on condition of anonymity.

The official revealed that South Korea is considering sending a group to monitor North Korean military activities on the front in Ukraine, according to Yonhap news agency.

It is necessary to assess the potential security implications for South Korea, as Pyongyang may acquire new military technologies from Russia in exchange for deploying its troops and learning modern combat tactics.

The publication noted that many in South Korea believe that the involvement of North Korean troops in the Russian war against Ukraine poses a “direct military threat” to their country. When asked whether South Korea is considering providing Ukraine with 155mm artillery shells, the official clarified that no request has been made from the Ukrainian side and such a plan is not being considered.

While weapons supply to Ukraine is not currently under discussion, the official added that defensive armaments will be prioritized for consideration.

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