Presidential Office: "Step-by-Step Response to North Korea Troop Deployment... Possible Support of Offensive Weapons to Ukraine" (Comprehensive)

Emergency NSC Meeting at the National Security Office Discusses Response Measures
"North Korea's Deployment to Russia Violates UN Security Council Resolution"
"Sharing Information with the US and Others... US Will Also Make a Statement"

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on current issues including the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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 the Russia-North Korea military cooperation is deemed excessive, the plan is to support Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, not only with defensive weapons but also with offensive weapons.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office at 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 chaired by Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office, held that morning. The meeting was convened to discuss response measures following North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia and its involvement in the Ukraine war.

"Security Threat Scenario Prepared... Corresponding Measures"

Deputy Director Kim stated, "The meeting participants pointed out that North Korea, which has supplied a large amount of military weapons to Russia, has now gone so far as to dispatch troops to 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 it is a blatant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit any 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, we will not stand 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 that 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 could develop into a serious threat to our security and prepare corresponding measures."

He also pointed out, "The meeting participants criticized the North Korean regime, which has thoroughly neglected the livelihood and human rights of its people and focused solely on nuclear and missile development, for ultimately forcing North Korean youth to become mercenaries in Russia's unjust war, an act that admits to being a criminal group itself." He added, "At times like this, the government will unwaveringly 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."

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]

"North Korea's Deployment Confirmed with the U.S... U.S. Will Also Announce Position"

Regarding the ‘phased measures’ following 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, "We will refrain from speaking further as it could negatively affect the other party's judgment and calculations."

However, the official explained, "Depending on the scenario in each phase, we may consider supporting defensive weapons to Ukraine, and if the extent is deemed excessive, we may 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 information about North Korea's troop deployment and the details of Russia-North Korea military cooperation, which have been disclosed mainly by our intelligence agencies, are the result of information jointly compiled over a long period with the U.S. and other allied countries."

The official explained, "(The U.S.) continues to closely cooperate with South Korea on the policy line and said, "When the U.S. makes a clear announcement 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."

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service announced that North Korea plans to deploy a total of 12,000 special forces to the Russian front and has transported 1,500 troops in the first phase. However, the U.S. government has not yet confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops and maintains that investigations are ongoing.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a congratulatory speech at the 79th Police Day ceremony held on the 21st at the Chamsuri Hall of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

"Russia May Provide Military Technology to North Korea in Exchange for Troop Deployment"

The Presidential Office predicted that North Korea could receive military technology from Russia in exchange for troop deployment. A Presidential Office official explained, "North Korea may try to obtain advanced military technology from Russia necessary for the sophistication of the nuclear missiles they want to complete," adding, "Russia may also help upgrade and modernize North Korea's existing outdated conventional weapons."

He continued, "If Russia helps North Korea succeed in its reconnaissance satellite, which has failed several times so far, North Korea's surveillance capabilities against us will expand. Also, if North Korean combat troops participate in the war, it could cultivate their practical combat capabilities and acquire weapon performance data."

Regarding the NATO delegation dispatch for information sharing mentioned by President Yoon Suk-yeol during a phone call with the NATO Secretary General the previous day, the official said, "Within a few days, a small team from intelligence agencies and the Ministry of National Defense will be formed to visit the NATO headquarters in Brussels."

The Presidential Office official emphasized, "The North Korean regime does not disclose to its people what actions it is currently taking with Russia. We will use all possible means available to our country to appropriately inform how the North Korean leadership is exploiting and extorting its people."

Meanwhile, the NSC Standing Committee meeting that day was attended by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong.