In a trilateral meeting in Washington D.C., South Korean National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Japanese National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba discussed the issue, along with other regional security matters.
"The national security advisors expressed grave concern over troop deployments by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Russia, potentially for use on the battlefield against Ukraine," said John Kirby, National Security Communications Coordinator for the White House.
The officials condemned North Korea's deepening military cooperation with Russia, including arms and ballistic missile transfers, which they said violates United Nations Security Council resolutions. They called on both countries to cease these actions, warning that they could destabilize the region and beyond.
"The DPRK's support is directly increasing the suffering of the Ukrainian people, violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, undermines the global non-proliferation regime, and has significant security implications for Europe, the Korean Peninsula, and the Indo-Pacific region," the White House said in a statement.
South Korea's intelligence agency has confirmed that Pyongyang plans to send approximately 10,000 troops to Russia by the end of the year. The U.S. has also confirmed the deployment of at least 3,000 North Korean troops to eastern Russia earlier this month.
The three national security advisors reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral cooperation, pledging to institutionalize efforts to build a new era of partnership for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. They also agreed to work towards a trilateral summit at the earliest opportunity.
Separately, South Korea and Japan held bilateral talks, agreeing to strengthen their cooperation to address the growing security threats posed by North Korea and its alliance with Russia. They also committed to deepening bilateral ties, particularly in light of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year.
North Korea has denied the troop deployment allegations, but its Vice Foreign Minister, Kim Jong-gyu, suggested that such a move would be in line with international law.
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