Key facts
- South Korea and the EU condemned North Korea's alleged troop dispatch to aid Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Leaders expressed serious concerns over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and reaffirmed commitment to denuclearization.
- This marks the current South Korean administration's first public stance on North Korea's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Both sides agreed to work together to obstruct deepening security cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
- North Korea is accused of already exporting artillery shells and missiles to Russia.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, during a visit to Brussels, held a summit with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In a joint statement, the leaders strongly condemned the alleged military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea's reported troop dispatch to support Russia's war in Ukraine. This marks the current South Korean administration's first public condemnation of North Korea's involvement in the conflict.
The leaders expressed serious concerns regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, urging adherence to UN Security Council resolutions. They also addressed North Korean human rights issues, calling for tangible improvements and access for international organizations.
In a separate meeting in Seoul, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoed these sentiments, strongly condemning North Korea's alleged troop deployment and agreeing to collaborate on obstructing Russian-North Korean security cooperation. US intelligence suggests a significant number of North Korean soldiers have been moved near Ukraine's border.
Accusations include North Korea already supplying artillery shells and missiles to Russia. South Korea's military has also observed the construction of defensive structures by North Korea near its border with South Korea.