Russia's First Stance on 'Deployment of North Korean Troops'... "Does Not Contradict South Korea's Security Interests"

Russian Embassy: "North Korea-Russia Cooperation Within the Framework of International Law"

Following the National Intelligence Service's announcement that North Korea deployed special forces to the Russian battlefield, Russia has issued its first response. While revealing that our government summoned the Russian ambassador to South Korea, Russia claimed that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea does not violate international law and does not go against South Korea's security interests.

Georgy Zinoviev, Russian Ambassador to Korea
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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

After the summons, the Russian Embassy in South Korea stated, "Ambassador Zinoviev emphasized that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea is conducted within the framework of international law and does not contradict the security interests of the Republic of Korea," adding, "Russia and South Korea hold opposing views on the causes of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula."

Vice Foreign Minister Kim stressed that the illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and the UN Charter, but the Russian side appears to have effectively denied this.