Seoul: South Korea’s foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador in Seoul in protest over allegations of North Korea sending troops to aid Russia in Ukraine, APA reports citing Yonhap.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Georgy Zinoviev, the Russian ambassador, confirmed to Yonhap that he had met with South Korea’s first vice foreign minister, Kim Hong-kyun, earlier in the day to discuss the issue. The South Korean foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter.

South Korea’s national intelligence service reported last week that approximately 1,500 North Korean special forces troops had been sent to Russia’s Far East. The troops are undergoing training and acclimatization at local military bases and are expected to be deployed in Ukraine. This movement has raised concerns internationally about the escalating involvement of North Korea in the Ukraine conflict.

The White House National Security Council has expressed concerns over the potential deployment of North Kor
ean troops in Ukraine, noting that such a development would represent a significant escalation in the conflict. However, they have not been able to confirm the deployment. Both Russia and North Korea have denied any military collaboration involving arms transfers or troop deployments. The Kremlin also refuted claims regarding North Korean military personnel assisting Russia in the Ukraine war.