Support for Ukraine Changing... Han Duck-soo Says "International Community Should Think Together"

U.S. State Department Officially Confirms North Korean Military Combat Involvement

The United States has officially confirmed that North Korean troops deployed to the Russian battlefield participated in combat, but our government remains cautious. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo distanced himself from the possibility of South Korea independently providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, saying, "It is not desirable for Korea to act alone" in response to the government's phased approach.

At a press briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the 13th, Prime Minister Han stated, "I believe this is a task to be advanced through sufficient consultation with the international community, especially our close ally, the United States." When asked if the direction of support for Ukraine might change, he replied, "Nothing has been decided."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is answering questions during a meeting with the press corps held at the Government Seoul Office Annex on the morning of the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State, said at a briefing on the 12th (local time), "We can confirm that North Korean troops who moved to Kurkuso have begun to engage in combat operations alongside Russian forces."

Our Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have only stated that they are "keeping a close watch on the possibility." A military source expressed a cautious stance, saying, "It is not yet at a level to definitively confirm North Korean troops' combat participation."

Prime Minister Han pointed out that "the clear fact that North Korea has participated in the Russia-Ukraine war is an important issue for the Republic of Korea in many aspects and something that needs to be carefully understood and examined." He noted that North Korea poses a security threat to the Korean Peninsula by receiving technology related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) such as nuclear and missile technology through cooperation with Russia or by strengthening its military capabilities based on Russia's economic support.

He added, "If North Korea gains war experience, it could become a greater threat to us," and said, "(Adjusting the level of response) is not something Korea can do alone but must be pursued in cooperation with the international community."