Ministry of Foreign Affairs Summons Russian Ambassador: "Responding with All Available Means" (Comprehensive)

Kim Hong-gyun "Russia Must Immediately Withdraw North Korean Troops"

The government summoned Georgy Zinoviev, the Russian Ambassador to South Korea, over the issue of North Korean troop deployment.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 21st, Kim Hong-gyun, the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, called Ambassador Zinoviev to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in the afternoon and conveyed the South Korean government's stern position regarding North Korea's recent deployment of troops to Russia. He also strongly urged the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and the cessation of related cooperation.

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Foreign Minister, summoned Georgi Zinoviev, Ambassador of Russia to Korea, on the 21st.
[Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Vice Minister Kim pointed out that the current situation, where the close ties between North Korea and Russia have gone beyond the movement of military supplies to actual troop deployment, poses a serious security threat not only to South Korea but also to the international community. He emphasized that this violates multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the UN Charter.

Furthermore, Vice Minister Kim strongly condemned the illegal military cooperation, including North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, in the strongest terms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that he sternly warned that any actions threatening South Korea's core security interests would be met with a joint response from the international community using all available means.

Ambassador Zinoviev listened carefully to the South Korean government's position and stated that he would report it to his home country.

The government is reportedly discussing various measures, including independent sanctions, in response to North Korea's troop deployment.