Urgent NSC Meeting at National Security Office Discusses Response Measures
"North Korea's Deployment to Russia Violates UN Security Council Resolution"
"Sharing Information with US and Others... US Will Also Announce Position"
The Presidential Office strongly condemned North Korea's deployment of combat troops to Russia and announced that it will prepare and implement countermeasures according to a phased scenario. If it is judged that the Russia-North Korea military cooperation has exceeded limits, the policy is to support Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, not only with defensive but also offensive weapons.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office of the Presidential Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office and announced the results of the emergency National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee meeting held that morning, chaired by Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office. The meeting was convened to discuss response measures following North Korea's troop deployment to Russia and participation in the Ukraine war.
Deputy Director Kim said, "The meeting participants pointed out that North Korea, which has been supplying large amounts of military weapons to Russia, has now gone so far as to deploy troops in Russia's illegal invasion war against Ukraine. This is a serious security threat not only to our country but also to the international community, and a blatant violation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions prohibiting all military cooperation with North Korea. We strongly condemn this act."
He continued, "The government urges the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and emphasized that if the current military collusion between North Korea and Russia continues, it will not stand idly by but will respond firmly together with the international community."
To this end, he said, "The government will implement phased countermeasures according to the progress of Russia-North Korea military cooperation following North Korea's deployment of combat troops. In this process, we will closely cooperate with allies and friendly countries to ensure strong and effective measures against Russia-North Korea military cooperation are implemented."
Deputy Director Kim added, "Furthermore, we will comprehensively review possible scenarios in preparation for the possibility that Russia-North Korea military cooperation develops into a serious threat to our security and prepare corresponding measures."
He also said, "The meeting participants pointed out that the North Korean regime, which has thoroughly neglected the livelihood and human rights of its people and focused solely on nuclear and missile development, is now driving North Korean youth to the unjustified battlefield as mercenaries for Russia, which is an act of self-admission as a criminal group. The government will steadfastly promote the '8.15 Unification Doctrine' to guarantee the freedom and human rights of North Korean residents and to create a peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula, especially in times like these."
On the 18th (local time), the Ukrainian Military Strategic Communication and Information Security Center (SPRAVDI) released a video showing soldiers presumed to be North Korean lining up to receive Russian supplies. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Regarding the 'phased measures' in response to the progress of Russia-North Korea military cooperation, a Presidential Office official said, "We have prepared diplomatic, economic, and military measures that we can take" but added, "I will refrain from speaking because it could negatively affect the other party's judgment and calculations."
However, the official explained, "We may consider supporting defensive weapons to Ukraine while monitoring the scenarios step by step, and if the limit is deemed excessive, we may even consider supporting offensive weapons as a last resort."
Regarding the White House not officially confirming North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, the Presidential Office said, "The facts about North Korea's troop deployment status and military cooperation with Russia, which have been disclosed mainly by our intelligence agencies, are the result of information jointly developed over a long period with the United States and other allied countries."
The official explained, "(The United States) continues to closely cooperate with South Korea at the policy level, and when the U.S. makes a clear statement on this issue, it is likely that all future measures and countermeasures will already be prepared in their minds, so it seems to be taking some time. I think the U.S. will make a statement soon."
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