South Korea has vowed to take measures against North Korea and Russia over their deepening military cooperation and urged North Korea to immediately withdraw its troops from Russia, according to Yonhap News Agency.

On 18 October, the Head of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that nearly 11,000 North Korean soldiers are being trained in Russia to fight against Ukraine. Shortly after his claims, videos of North Koreans training at Russian military bases began appearing online. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also confirmed that Russia has been integrating North Korean military personnel into its forces.

The South Korean Presidential National Security Council has said the growing military ties between  Pyongyang and Moscow pose a “significant security threat” to both South Korea and the international community as it violates UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting military cooperation with North Korea.