The South Korean government condemns the public acknowledgment by the North Korean regime of the participation of North Korean troops in Russia's war against Ukraine.
This is stated in a press release from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Yonhap.
"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 statement reads.
It emphasizes that this is the first confirmation from Pyongyang of the involvement of North Korean soldiers in Russia's war against Ukraine, indicating large-scale military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow in violation of international requirements.
"The dispatch of the North Korean troops, along with broader military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, constitutes a grave violation of international norms, including the U.N. Charter, and U.N. Security Council resolutions," the South Korean Foreign Ministry stated.
Seoul has called on Russia and North Korea to immediately cease their illegal military cooperation, which undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, including Europe.
"We will work closely with the international community to take all necessary measures against any actions that threaten our national security," the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured.
In turn, the South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that North Korea's acknowledgment of its troops' participation in the war in Ukraine constitutes an admission of its own criminal actions.
"The participation of North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine is an illegal act that violates the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions. By officially confirming this, North Korea has acknowledged its own criminal actions," said the Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Jeong Hakyo.
He described Pyongyang's justification of its actions as an attempt to deceive the international community by claiming that it "aligns with the spirit of international treaties."
"This is a deception aimed at glorifying North Korea's illegal actions," the South Korean defense spokesperson noted.
South Korean intelligence reported in October of last year that North Korea had sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia, with an additional 3,000 soldiers sent in January and February.
