South Korea’s Foreign Ministry voiced grave concern over North Korea’s plan to dispatch thousands of additional personnel to Russia, urging Pyongyang and Moscow to halt what it described as illegal bilateral cooperation.
The ministry noted that the reception and employment of North Korean workers overseas constitutes a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. In particular, it referenced Resolution 2397, which mandates the repatriation of all North Korean nationals earning income abroad.
It further emphasized that any cooperation between Russia and North Korea must comply with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, stressing that such collaboration should not endanger peace and security on the Korean Peninsula or globally. Authorities added that they are closely monitoring related developments in coordination with allied nations.
This statement came after Russian media reported that Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, had announced North Korea’s plan to send an additional 6,000 personnel—including 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 construction workers—to assist in reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region. The announcement followed a meeting between Shoigu and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.
According to intelligence sources, including the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea initially deployed approximately 12,000 combat troops to Russia in October last year. This was followed by an additional deployment of over 3,000 troops between January and February of this year.