Russia faces backlash for military tech deals with North Korea
The South Korean defense minister has warned about the potential consequences Russia may face for supporting North Korea's military activities concerning Ukraine. He stated that North Korea has a specific goal: to acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and tactical nuclear weapons.
8:03 AM EDT, October 31, 2024
The minister cautioned that Pyongyang might seek to obtain Russian ICBM and nuclear weapon technology in exchange for supporting military operations in Ukraine. During a press conference in Washington, Kim Yong-hyun and his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, urged North Korea to withdraw its troops from Russia, as reported by the Polish Press Agency.
At the media briefing, Kim Yong-Hyun expressed concerns that North Korea could send 3,000 troops to Russia to aid Moscow in its activities in Ukraine. In return, Pyongyang would gain access to advanced Russian military technology.
There is a significant possibility that, in exchange for deploying its troops, North Korea will request technology transfers from various sectors, the minister stated. He indicated that these could include tactical nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and submarine-related technologies.
Lloyd Austin noted that Ukrainian soldiers would be able to use weapons supplied by the USA to combat North Korean forces. He also emphasized that "it is highly likely that soldiers sent by Pyongyang will face casualties if they choose to fight alongside the Russians." Both ministers called on North Korea to cease military support for Russia and stressed the importance of the alliance between Seoul and Washington for regional stability.
The North Korean regime and the US elections
Kim Hyun also addressed potential actions by Pyongyang in the context of the upcoming presidential elections in the USA. He warned, as quoted by PAP, that North Koreans will likely seek to draw attention to themselves before and after the elections.
He suggested that North Korea might conduct another ICBM launch attempt or a seventh nuclear test. South Korean lawmakers echoed similar concerns following a parliamentary committee meeting with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Despite rising tensions, Kim Yong-Hyun stated that he did not believe that closer ties between Pyongyang and Moscow would increase the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula. He expressed confidence in the strength and effectiveness of the South Korea-US alliance in maintaining the region's security.
