[Meeting the Ambassador to Korea] "North Korean Military Acquires Modern Warfare Skills from Ukraine War... Indo-Pacific Security Threat"

"Tactics Acquired on the Battlefield Will Be Integrated into North Korea"
"Russian Invasion Is a Test of the Response to the Collapse of the Rules-Based International Order"
"Emphasizing Ukraine's Commitment to Peace"

"The North Korean military is actively learning from the Ukraine-Russia war, and it goes without saying that this war poses a serious threat to strengthening North Korea's military capabilities. This is a direct security threat not only to Ukraine and other European countries but also to South Korea, Japan, the United States, and the entire Indo-Pacific region."

Dmytro Ponomarenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea, issued this warning in interviews with Asia Economy conducted on the 4th and 7th.

Dmytro Ponomarenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Korea, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the embassy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

Now entering its third year, the Ukraine war began peace negotiations after Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president but has since stalled. Ukraine and Russia have, in principle, agreed to a 30-day partial ceasefire but have yet to find a breakthrough in negotiations. Taking advantage of this, the embers of the war, which had briefly subsided, have recently reignited.

There are growing concerns that the previously underdeveloped North Korean military, by participating in the Ukraine war, could gain experience in modern warfare using advanced weapons such as drones and enhance its missile capabilities. This could become a serious threat to South Korean security in the future.

Ambassador Ponomarenko stated, "Judging by the scale of (troop) losses, it is clear that the North Korean military has gaps in personnel training for modern high-tech warfare. However, they quickly gained the necessary experience. They arrived unprepared but subsequently acquired and absorbed important military knowledge." He added, "North Korean officers are directly learning how to plan military strategic operations of modern warfare in real combat. The combat tactics, drone warfare strategies, and survival skills that North Korean soldiers acquire on the Ukrainian battlefield will be integrated into the North Korean military system once they return to North Korea."

Furthermore, the closer ties between North Korea and Russia through troop deployment are also a cause for concern. Having served as the Director of the Asia-Pacific Department at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consul General in Shanghai, Ambassador Ponomarenko assessed that this war could negatively impact global security beyond Northeast Asia.

He said, "Russia’s invasion is testing the world’s response to the collapse of the rules-based international order. The conflict has internationalized beyond the borders of the two countries, directly linking European and Indo-Pacific security. Considering the deepening military and technological cooperation between Russia and Iran, Middle Eastern security could also be affected." He continued, "Stopping Russia’s attack plans and reckless actions aligns with the interests of all progressive democratic countries, including South Korea. Allowing Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) to succeed would bring catastrophic consequences to global stability." The following is a Q&A.

Dmytro Ponomarenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Korea, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the embassy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-Recent ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia seem to be stalled. What are the key issues that the Ukrainian government considers central in the ceasefire talks?

▲I want to emphasize once again Ukraine’s will for peace. No one wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible for lasting peace. No one desires peace more than Ukrainians.

The temporary ceasefire (30-day provisional ceasefire) is very important as it is not an attempt to entrench the conflict but to end the war in a legitimate way. It also shows who is interested in peace. However, the Kremlin appears to be effectively rejecting the 30-day full ceasefire proposal by presenting unnecessary conditions. They want the continuation of war, not peace.

Putin claimed that after talking with President Trump, he ordered a halt to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, Russia launched nighttime attacks with ballistic missiles and drones that very night. If Moscow refuses the ceasefire, pressure must be applied to Russia. Ukraine accepted the U.S. (ceasefire) proposal without additional conditions, and Russia should do the same.

On the 4th, Russia attacked a residential area in Kryvyi Rih with ballistic missiles. Twenty people, including nine children, were killed and more than 70 injured. Russia is completely ignoring the international peace efforts led by President Trump. This is Moscow’s message to Washington that it will continue the war and kill Ukrainians until faced with pressure of a different kind.

We urge South Korea to publicly condemn Russia’s war crimes and take concrete measures to increase pressure on Moscow. This includes providing additional military support to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and protect civilian lives.

-Some interpret Ukraine’s attempt to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as having triggered Russia’s invasion. Going further back, Ukraine’s decision to give up nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1994, trusting Western security guarantees, may also have had an impact. What does the Ukrainian government consider important for postwar security?

▲It is true that under the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons in exchange for guarantees of our sovereignty and territorial integrity from the U.S., the U.K., Russia, and others. Unfortunately, it was not legally binding. From the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum, we will not accept any alternative to NATO membership.

For now, Ukraine’s NATO membership is the guarantee that Putin will never invade us again. Ukraine is a democratic country prepared to defend itself like European countries and ready to protect our values and way of life. I believe that if Ukraine joins NATO, Russia will turn to diplomacy. Otherwise, we must maintain a strong military and spend a significant portion of the national budget on defense. The realistic possibility of NATO membership convinces Russia that it can gain nothing from war.

The Euro-Atlantic community also needs Ukraine to guarantee security. By strengthening Ukraine, the allies are also strengthening themselves. It is now time to create a European army to upgrade NATO.

-After more than three years of war, which areas of Ukraine’s economy and society have suffered the most damage?

▲During Russia’s invasion, missiles and drones attacked Ukraine’s major infrastructure and residential areas daily. Russia destroyed hundreds of schools, hospitals, kindergartens, and educational institutions. Due to Moscow’s terrorism, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, especially thermal and hydroelectric power plants and high-voltage transmission networks, has been severely damaged. Rapid restoration of the transmission network is a top priority.

Rebuilding social infrastructure is also necessary to revitalize local communities. This includes improving facilities according to the 'build back better' principle. The Ukrainian government will continue to implement related projects in cooperation with partner countries, international organizations, and the private sector.

-Are there ongoing discussions with the South Korean government or companies regarding cooperation in reconstruction projects?

▲Ukraine’s reconstruction is a large-scale process. As the country with the largest area in Europe, Ukraine is rich in natural resources such as fertile black soil, minerals, forests, and water resources. It boasts skilled labor and comprehensive transportation and energy infrastructure, including railways, roads, ports, airports, power grids, and gas pipelines.

Ukraine is maintaining continuous dialogue at all levels regarding South Korea’s participation in postwar reconstruction projects. South Korea participates in the Ukraine Multilateral Donor Coordination Platform (MDCP). We are working to strengthen cooperation in Ukraine’s reconstruction sector and to activate public and private cooperation between the two countries for infrastructure development and reconstruction, urban planning, and social infrastructure construction. Ukraine feels South Korea’s enthusiasm and readiness to participate in postwar reconstruction projects and appreciates such support.