Russia warns of ‘tough response’ if South Korea intervenes in Ukraine war

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this, according to Russian Interfax.

According to Zakharova, Moscow warns Seoul against interfering in the war in Ukraine. Russia warns South Korea that it will respond harshly to any steps.

‘We believe that the South Korean authorities should not play along with the Kyiv regime. The Russian Federation will indeed react harshly to any steps that could pose a threat to the security of the country, its citizens, wherever its citizens are. These measures can be very tangible,’ Zakharova said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman urged Seoul ‘not to fight in anti-Russian hysteria, but to think about the security consequences’.

Military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that 20 soldiers were killed in a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, including six North Korean military personnel advising the Russian army.

The South Korean Defense Minister warned on October 8 that North Korea may deploy troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.

At an October 17 press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Russia's plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for combat in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, later reported that 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are training in eastern Russia, preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He added that the first unit of 2,600 soldiers is en route to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a stronghold.

Ukraine has since shared intelligence with NATO about North Korea’s military involvement and requested data from alliance members.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the participation of the North Korean military in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia would mean a “significant escalation.” 

Later, it was reported that South Korea was considering providing Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance in response to North Korea's sending its military to fight on the side of Russia.