Government Delegation Visiting NATO and Ukraine... Will Our Military Be Dispatched?

Delegation to Return on the 4th... Full Review of Sim Munjo and Others Expected

A government delegation that discussed cooperation measures with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Ukraine, and others regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia returned on the 4th. Depending on the report from the government delegation, the dispatch of a small number of military personnel, previously referred to as an 'observer group' or 'interrogation team,' may be considered.

Hong Jang-won, the 1st Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, is taking a commemorative photo with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on the 28th of last month (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

The government delegation, led by Hong Jang-won, the 1st Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, visited NATO headquarters and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, on the 28th and 29th of last month (local time), then proceeded to Ukraine. They discussed the situation of North Korean troops deployed to Russia and cooperation measures to respond at the international level. The delegation mainly exchanged opinions on the possibility of dispatching observer groups to Ukraine, which is engaged in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The government sees the dispatch of an observer group to analyze the war situation as necessary. Although it has drawn a line by stating that it has never officially used terms like 'observer group' or 'interrogation team,' it has repeatedly mentioned the need for personnel to perform roles such as observation or interrogation. On the 1st, Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office, stated at the National Assembly's Steering Committee audit, "We also believe that dispatching observer groups and combat power analysis teams to understand how modern warfare is conducted is absolutely necessary."

Earlier, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, during a visit to Washington DC on the 30th of last month (local time), told reporters, "When the government delegation returns, we will compile various reports, set directions based on them, and take necessary measures in coordination with the international community." The National Intelligence Service also stated in a report to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 29th of last month, "Consultation with Ukraine is important," adding, "Depending on the results, matters related to the dispatch of monitoring teams could be concretized."

Minister Kim mentioned that the decision on whether to provide weapons to Ukraine will not be determined solely by whether North Korean troops are deployed to the battlefield, but will be made considering the overall war situation and in coordination with the international community.