By South Korea has escalated its stance on the Ukraine conflict, threatening to send both offensive and defensive weapons alongside military personnel to Ukraine, marking a dramatic shift in its approach to the war following reports of North Korean troop deployments to Russia.
A senior presidential official, speaking anonymously to Yonhap news agency Tuesday, revealed Seoul may dispatch military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine to analyze North Korean battlefield tactics and assist in interrogating captured North Korean soldiers. The move would represent an unprecedented level of South Korean involvement in the conflict.
South Korea’s National Security Council demanded the “immediate withdrawal” of North Korean troops from Russia while promising unspecified “phased countermeasures,” marking Seoul’s strongest response yet to Pyongyang’s deepening involvement in the Ukraine war.
The threat follows intelligence reports that North Korea has already deployed approximately 1,500 special forces to Russia, with plans to send up to 12,000 elite troops. While U.S. and NATO officials haven’t confirmed the deployment, they have condemned growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, including North Korea’s provision of artillery and missiles.
“To me the easiest explanation is that South Korea thinks North Korea is getting something sufficiently valuable for that troop deployment, so that it makes sense to take some risk to impose costs on Russia,” said Mason Richey, professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.
The potential policy shift reflects growing concerns over a restored Cold War-era mutual defense treaty between North Korea and Russia. Analysts suggest North Korea’s military involvement could secure battlefield experience, financial support for its struggling economy, and advanced military technology, potentially including nuclear and missile capabilities.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration has previously limited weapon supplies to third parties like the United States and Poland, citing domestic laws restricting arms exports to conflict zones. However, experts suggest legal loopholes could allow direct military aid under provisions for developing countries.
Ben Engel, political science professor at Dankook University, suggests the move aligns with Yoon’s “peace through strength” foreign policy. “They won’t look very strong if they don’t react somehow. And sending weapons to Ukraine is something they are de facto doing already,” Engel said.
Some analysts urge caution, noting potential complications from the upcoming U.S. presidential election. “There’s little sense in responding positively to appeals that Biden and NATO made six months ago if Trump wins,” said Jeffrey Robertson, diplomatic studies professor at Yonsei University.
Beyond immediate political considerations, experts warn of broader strategic implications. “Although the number of troops being deployed might be small, the implications of such deployment are significant,” said Hyun Seung-soo, researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “It’s an action by Russia and North Korea that could change the global political landscape.”
The threat of direct military support to Ukraine represents a calculated risk for South Korea, potentially triggering further Russian cooperation with North Korea while demonstrating Seoul’s commitment to international security partnerships.
