North Korea officially acknowledged for the first time on April 28 that it had dispatched troops to join the Russian military. The South Korean government strongly condemned North Korea's deployment, calling it illegal and a violation of human rights.
Koo Byungsam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, is holding a regular briefing at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News
Koo Byungsam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated during a regular briefing that morning, "North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a grave provocation that threatens the security not only of our country but also of Europe and the entire world. It is also a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions," he said, adding, "We strongly condemn this." He continued, "No matter how much North Korea tries to cover up the truth, the deployment of North Korean troops is an illegal act that violates international norms and an inhumane and unethical act that sacrifices the lives of North Korean youth for the regime's security. This truth cannot be concealed."
Koo also warned, "We urge the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops, and if the current military collusion between North Korea and Russia continues, we will not stand by but will respond firmly in cooperation with the international community."
Jeon Hagyu, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, also responded to related questions during a regular briefing, stating, "The participation of North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine is a clear illegal act that violates the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions." He further criticized, "The fact that this has been officially acknowledged means they have admitted to committing a criminal act themselves." He added, "Our military, together with the international community, strongly condemns these inhumane and illegal acts."
Earlier that morning, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency and the Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported a statement from the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, officially confirming the deployment of troops to Russia. The Party's military commission stated, "Based on analysis and judgment that the current situation on the battlefield corresponds to the invocation of Article 4 of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Russian Federation, Kim Jongun decided to send our armed forces and notified the Russian side." This confirmed that the decision to deploy troops was made by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jongun. The statement added, "In deciding to join the war, Kim Jongun defined the participation of our armed forces as a sacred mission to further solidify the traditional friendship and unity between the two countries, guarantee the development and prosperity of both nations, and safeguard the honor of North Korea."
The statement also conveyed Kim's message that "a monument to combat merit will soon be erected in our capital," and that "important national measures should be taken to specially treat and care for the families of the war veterans." There was no separate mention of North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces.
The prevailing view in the international community is that the current Russia-Ukraine war began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, North Korea's military commission limited the deployment area to the border region of 'Kursk,' stating, "The liberation operation in the Kursk region, aimed at repelling the adventurous armed invasion by the Ukrainian authorities, has ended in victory," and "the reckless political and military schemes of Western powers and the Ukrainian authorities have failed." The commission further stated, "We consider it an honor to be in an alliance with a powerful country like Russia," and added, "We are pleased that the participation of our armed units has strengthened the combative bond between North Korea and Russia and contributed to Russia's special military operation."
With North Korea and Russia officially confirming their alliance and joint participation in the war, the likelihood of further visible military cooperation between the two sides has increased. North Korea's military commission emphasized, "The invincible combative friendship between the two countries, proven with blood, will greatly contribute to the expansion and development of all aspects of North Korea-Russia relations."
Even before the official announcement of participation, North Korea and Russia were reportedly cooperating on joint drone production and the provision of air defense weapons, among other areas. The new 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer Choi Hyeonho, unveiled by North Korea on April 26, is another example. The Choi Hyeonho, the largest destroyer built by North Korea to date, is believed to have benefited from Russian technical support, including phased array radar and vertical launch systems (VLS). The same is true for the nuclear-powered submarine (SSBN) that Kim Jongun has directly mentioned as a future goal.
According to a recent report by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), the economic benefits North Korea has gained from the Ukraine war amount to 28.7 trillion won. It is reported that North Korea prefers to receive compensation in the form of advanced weapons, goods, and technical support. With the official announcement of participation, concerns are growing that such "compensation" may become more tangible.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the official announcement of troop deployment comes amid speculation that Kim Jongun may visit Russia next month. There are forecasts that Kim Jongun could visit Moscow on May 9, which is Russia's Victory Day commemorating the end of World War II.
Lim Eulchul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, stated, "It is expected that cooperation between North Korea and Russia will accelerate not only in economic but also in military fields in the future." He added, "In particular, North Korea is now more likely to acquire advanced military technology from Russia, which will further enhance North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities and increase the threat to the South Korea-US alliance."
However, regarding the possibility of Kim Jongun's visit to Russia, Professor Lim said, "It cannot be completely ruled out, but the possibility is relatively low," explaining, "This is because it is unlikely that Kim Jongun will be the 'main character' on a multilateral diplomatic stage, and the Victory Day has little direct relevance to the Battle of Kursk." He continued, "It is expected that Kim Jongun will plan a separate special victory commemoration event to highlight the victory at Kursk, and that a North Korea-Russia summit will be held at that time."
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