Seoul demands immediate withdrawal of elite soldiers reportedly helping Russia in its war against Ukraine
South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador to Seoul to protest “in the strongest terms” about the reported dispatch of thousands of North Korean troops to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The first vice-foreign minister, Kim Hong-kyun, told the Russian envoy, Georgy Zinoviev, that the participation of North Korean troops in the war violated UN resolutions and demanded their immediate withdrawal, South Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
“We condemn North Korea’s illegal military cooperation, including its dispatch of troops to Russia, in the strongest terms,” Kim said, adding that the deployment posed a serious threat to the security of South Korea and other countries. “We will respond jointly with the international community by mobilising all available means against acts that threaten our core security interests.”
All words, actually do something…
“condemn… in the strongest terms”
That means FAFO in diplomatic terms. This isn’t like you and I talking. When nation states use those exact words it means they’re taking action, no more talking.
Eh, for a country that’s not in Europe, let alone NATO, they’ve done more than most. South Korea’s main goal is to counter North Korea’s geopolitical agenda. They’ve had laws on the books that prevent them from openly giving lethal aid to countries for decades now.
They are allowed to, and have circumvented this rule when N Korea gets involved, but they’ve done it in a tit for that manor. Sending shells through third parties to vicariously give lethal aid when N Korea “secretly” supplies Russia with rockets and shells.
This escalation from Russia and North Korea will likely be met by an escalation in a similar tit for tat manor. I don’t think they’ll send actual troops to Ukraine, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they ramp up shell production, as well as making the K2 tank factory go brrrr.