On Tuesday, Representative Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party warned that North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict could pose a significant threat to South Korea.
Speaking on News1TV’s Fact and View, Rep. Yoo emphasized the stark contrast between the joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the U.S. and the real combat experience that North Korean forces have gained while fighting alongside Russian troops. He cautioned that if a full-scale conflict were to erupt on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea might request Russian military support, using its combined combat experience from Ukraine to present a formidable challenge to South Korean forces.
Rep. Yoo pointed out that the North Korean troops deployed in Russia are primarily special forces trained for guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines—a type of experience he argued is far more concerning than that of regular infantry units. He stated that even if only about 9,000 of the estimated 15,000 deployed troops return, their combat experience would pose a severe threat to South Korea.
The lawmaker also addressed the U.S. military’s evolving strategy of strategic flexibility for its overseas forces. He stressed that the South Korean military must prepare for potential reductions or redeployments of U.S. forces in Korea, drawing lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Rep. Yoo noted that in a scenario involving a Taiwan crisis, U.S. forces based in Guam would likely be deployed more rapidly than those in Korea. He predicted a gradual decrease in U.S. forces on the peninsula, asserting that it’s not a question of if, but when and how many.
Although the recent U.S. National Defense Authorization Act has temporarily halted plans to reduce U.S. forces in Korea, Rep. Yoo warned that the possibility of future troop reductions remains a realistic concern.
Commenting on North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) agreement to raise member countries’ defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), Rep. Yoo remarked that while a 5% target may be unrealistic for South Korea, it should aim to increase its defense budget to 3% of GDP.
He argued that the escalating North Korean threat justifies increasing South Korea’s defense spending from the current 2.5–2.7% to 3% of GDP. However, it must also prioritise and enhance the efficiency of our defence expenditures, Rep. Yoo added.
Rep. Yoo underscored the critical role of drones in modern warfare, as evidenced in Ukraine and Gaza, and noted North Korea’s urgent efforts to bolster its drone capabilities following its involvement in Ukraine. “He concluded by stating that its military experts must carefully study and apply the lessons learned from these conflicts.
