Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: "Supplying Weapons Will Destroy Bilateral Relations"
Russia has threatened to strongly respond to the possibility of South Korea supporting lethal weapons to Ukraine, but the government reaffirmed its policy of maintaining a 'step-by-step response' approach. This means that if illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia develops, providing weapons to Ukraine will remain a valid option.
On the 25th, Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, "The government has already expressed a firm stance several times regarding the decision to strengthen mutual military and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea," adding, "We will monitor the trends of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and take phased measures according to developments." This reaffirmed the position that lethal weapons support is not excluded.
Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, is holding a regular briefing at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, on the 24th (local time), Andrey Rudenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, claimed that "South Korean weapons being used to kill Russian citizens could completely destroy bilateral relations," urging restraint from 'reckless actions.' He also stated, "We will respond by all necessary means."
Regarding Western media reports that many North Korean soldiers deployed to the Russian battlefield have been casualties, Spokesperson Koo responded, "Apart from what the intelligence authorities have disclosed, the Ministry of Unification has no additional information to confirm."
The National Intelligence Service revealed that it is closely investigating specific intelligence indicating casualties among North Korean soldiers deployed in the Ukraine war. Recently, several claims about North Korean casualties have emerged from Western officials and the Ukrainian government cited by foreign media, but this is the first confirmation by our intelligence authorities.
On the 23rd, the U.S. military specialist media Global Defense Corporation reported that approximately 500 North Korean soldiers died when Ukraine attacked the Kursk region of Russia with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that a high-ranking North Korean officer was injured in the Kursk airstrike.
On the 20th, Ukraine struck a presumed military command post target in the village of Marino near Kursk with up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles. The facility is known to be used by North Korean and Russian military officers, and it is reported that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers are deployed in the Kursk region where the airstrike occurred.
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