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South Korea said Monday it was closely monitoring military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, while Japan condemned their expanding ties following reports that Moscow is preparing to receive 30,000 additional North Korean troops for the war in Ukraine.
The responses followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement Saturday that Russia was seeking to bring another 30,000 North Korean troops into the conflict.
Zelenskyy alleged that Moscow had been preparing since last month to receive the troops in Russia’s Voronezh border region. He also said North Korea was preparing to send new ballistic missile launchers to Russia.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it was closely following developments involving military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow but declined to comment on intelligence matters, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“The government is closely monitoring developments related to military cooperation between North Korea and Russia,” the ministry said.
Seoul repeated its position that military cooperation violating U.N. Security Council resolutions must end immediately.
South Korean government sources cited by Yonhap said there were no confirmed signs of a new troop deployment.
Seoul estimates that North Korea has already sent about 20,000 troops and military engineers to Russia, with roughly 14,000 currently serving on the front lines.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Kihara strongly condemned the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, according to Fuji News Network.
Kihara cited North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia and Moscow’s procurement and use of North Korean weapons, including ballistic missiles.
“We strongly condemn the advancing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea,” Kihara said.
He warned that the cooperation would worsen the situation in Ukraine and create “serious concerns” for Japan’s regional security.
Kihara said Tokyo would continue collecting and analyzing information and work with the international community to ensure the full implementation of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions.
He also said Japan would support efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea have strengthened political and military relations since signing a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2024 that includes mutual assistance provisions.
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