EU "Deployment of North Korean Troops Also a Threat to Northeast Asia"... Expecting Military Support from Korea?

Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Visits Korea
"Encourages Korea to Strengthen Support for Ukraine"

The European Union (EU) is highlighting the issue of North Korean troops being dispatched to Russia as a "threat to Northeast Asia." Analysts suggest that, amid the prolonged support for Ukraine leading to shortages in weapon stockpiles among EU member states, the EU is expecting active support for Ukraine from South Korea.

Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who visited South Korea, emphasized after meeting with Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on the 4th through X (formerly Twitter) that "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an existential threat, and the Republic of Korea is in the best position to understand this." He added, "We are united in supporting Ukraine," and stated, "I encouraged South Korea to strengthen that (support for Ukraine)."

Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is holding a press conference on October 22 (local time) in Brussels, Belgium, where the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting was held.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, an official from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic service, made a similar statement. Roland Honekamp, Deputy Head of the EEAS Korea-Japan Division, claimed at an event hosted by the Belgian Embassy that the dispatch of North Korean troops is "the first example showing how the increasing North Korea-Russia cooperation in the Ukraine war can have real impacts on Northeast Asia."

From the EU's perspective, there appears to be strong concern that the war in Ukraine could escalate further. At the same time, it seems to be indirectly urging the international community, including South Korea, to take a more active role in supporting Ukraine.

However, the South Korean government has maintained a principle of not providing lethal weapons. Nevertheless, upon announcing the dispatch of North Korean troops, it declared a "phased response," including the possibility of weapon support depending on the progress of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.