Presidential Office: "Regardless of Who Wins the US Election... Gradual Response to 'North Korea Troop Deployment'"

"US Intentions Matter, But Our National Interest Is More Important"
"No Request for Ukrainian Shells... 155mm Not Under Consideration"
"Ukraine Discussing Special Envoy Dispatch Plan This Week"
"North Korea Preparing to Launch Upgraded Reconnaissance Satellite"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 29th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office emphasized on the 30th that it is not appropriate to mention lethal weapon support to Ukraine at this point, as the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war could change after next week's U.S. presidential election, stating, "While the U.S. intention is important, our national interest is even more important," and "the step-by-step response measures were not wrong."

A senior official from the Presidential Office said in a meeting with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that "regardless of who is elected as the head of the next U.S. administration after next Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, the Ukraine war is clearly sending a significant signal to South Korea's security."

The official explained, "(The Ukraine war is) an illegal invasion by Russia, and it is a matter of how the free world will embrace the world order going forward and build a stable and predictable peace," adding, "The measures we are currently observing and preparing step-by-step are absolutely necessary."

This is interpreted as a policy to maintain a strong stance on responding to North Korea's troop deployment to Russia regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election next week. Previously, some argued that mentioning weapon support was inappropriate timing because the war situation could change if former President Donald Trump wins the U.S. election.

Former President Trump had stated that he had a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that if he won the election, he would mediate to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The senior official said, "The decisive criterion for our next step-by-step measures is the start of combat involving North Korean troops in Ukraine," adding, "We are approaching this issue from the perspective of protecting our security."

However, the official refrained from specifying what weapons would be supported to Ukraine.

Although there were reports that the government is considering providing 155mm artillery shells, the official dismissed this, saying, "Ukraine has never requested shell support from us," and "Therefore, the claim that we are currently considering directly supplying 155mm shells to Ukraine is incorrect."

A video released by the Ukrainian Military Strategic Communication and Information Security Center (SPRAVDI) showing soldiers, presumed to be North Korean troops, lined up to receive Russian supplies.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office explained the current situation regarding North Korean troop deployment, stating, "We estimate the scale of North Korean troop deployment already executed to be at least 11,000, with more than 3,000 having already moved close to the western combat zones in Russia."

A senior official from the Presidential Office said, "After our intelligence agency's announcement, international condemnation began, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang on October 23-24, and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui is currently visiting Russia, indicating that urgent discussions on response directions are underway."

He continued, "North Korean troops are disguised as part of the Russian military, wearing Russian uniforms and using Russian weapon systems, integrated into the Russian military structure," adding, "There are several obstacles such as communication issues, so we are continuously monitoring when they will actually participate in combat."

He also said, "Internally, North Korea is making every effort to prevent unrest among its people," explaining, "They have banned officers from using mobile phones and are lying to the families of deployed soldiers, saying they are just training. Various rumors are spreading."

Regarding this, the official evaluated, "If the deployment activities are being conducted illegally and covertly under the Russian military system, it is different from when we fought honorably wearing the Republic of Korea military uniform during the Vietnam War."

Regarding reports that North Korean troops have already participated in combat and that all but one have died in this battle, he said, "Local NGOs make various claims, but these cannot be confirmed," adding, "We verify based on actual objective situations cross-checked by U.S. and our intelligence agencies."

On whether they have officially been deployed in the Ukraine battle, he explained, "There is no officially confirmed information."

On the morning of the 30th, in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, participants at a press conference hosted by People Opening Peace and Unification held signs urging the suspension of weapons support to Ukraine on the occasion of the 56th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between Korea and the United States. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said in a call with President Yoon Suk-yeol that regarding the special envoy to be dispatched to Korea, "It will take a day or two to designate the envoy and plan for their visit and discussions," and "I think discussions on the special envoy dispatch plan will begin within this week."

He also said, "We have an obligation to analyze and monitor North Korean troop activities," adding, "Whether we call it a war situation analysis team or a monitoring team, we feel the need to create and send a team that can monitor and analyze potential future activities and the war situation of North Korean troops."

The Presidential Office also revealed that North Korea is preparing to launch a military reconnaissance satellite.

The official said, "Since North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch failed last May, it seems they are desperate not to fail again," adding, "Considering the personnel exchanges and various strategic cooperation between North Korea and Russia during this period, it is understood that a modified-level reconnaissance satellite launch is being prepared."

He added, "If successful, it will enhance North Korea's reconnaissance and detection capabilities, posing a threat to our security."