North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is set to meet with officials in Moscow today, following reports from the Pentagon that North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to support Russia’s struggling campaign in Ukraine. Western leaders warn that this escalation risks extending the conflict’s impact into the Indo-Pacific, especially if military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang deepen.
The Pentagon disclosed that North Korean forces have begun to arrive in Russia’s Kursk region, a frontline area where Russian forces have faced resistance from Ukraine. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, described the deployment as “relatively small” so far but indicated the extent of North Korean involvement and its strategic goals remain uncertain. According to a South Korean intelligence briefing, Choe’s Moscow visit may involve talks on sending even more North Korean troops and negotiating incentives for North Korea’s support.
This unprecedented move has raised alarm among Western and South Korean officials, who fear that Moscow may offer Pyongyang advanced technology capable of strengthening North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed concerns in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasizing that the North’s access to Russian military expertise could pose a “major security threat” to Seoul. This collaboration could grant North Korean soldiers critical combat experience and advanced technology, amplifying regional security tensions.
North Korea and Russia, however, have refrained from formally acknowledging the troop deployment, instead emphasizing that their military cooperation “conforms with international law.” South Korean and Western officials remain skeptical, noting that both countries have sidestepped confirming any specifics about North Korean troops on Russian soil. Meanwhile, Russia and China have blocked U.S.-backed proposals at the United Nations Security Council to tighten sanctions on North Korea following its recent missile tests and other provocations.
The timing of Choe’s visit could signal that North Korea seeks concessions from Moscow, potentially including economic aid and access to military technology. This aligns with broader accusations from the U.S. and its allies, who have claimed that North Korea has already supplied Russia with artillery shells and military supplies to sustain its fight against Ukraine.
The military partnership is prompting South Korea to reconsider its stance on military support for Ukraine. South Korea has thus far refrained from supplying arms, citing a longstanding policy against arming nations involved in active conflicts. But President Yoon hinted at a shift, suggesting Seoul may provide arms to Ukraine if North Korea’s military involvement with Russia deepens.
Seoul has joined U.S.-led sanctions against Russia and provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but its potential shift toward arms support reflects growing unease over North Korea’s expanded military reach and the possibility of a security alliance with Russia. If North Korea’s troop presence and combat role in Russia intensify, South Korea may implement more aggressive measures to counter this partnership.
Sources for this article include: AP News, statements from the Pentagon and South Korean government.
