Analysts write that the Russian Federation appears to be struggling to reduce tensions with South Korea. This comes after credible reports emerged of increased cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Including warnings from South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence services that a contingent of North Korean troops was deployed for training in the Russian Federation.
In particular, in connection with these data, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev. However, the Russian embassy in South Korea falsely portrayed the incident as a voluntary meeting rather than a diplomatic challenge. The department also stated that cooperation between the Russian Federation and North Korea “is not directed against Seoul’s security interests”.
In addition, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that cooperation between Russia and North Korea “should not cause concern” for other states, and that information about the alleged presence of North Korean troops in Russia may be “contradictory”.
ISW output
Analysts say the Kremlin’s apparent desire to reassure South Korea that its cooperation with North Korea does not pose a threat to Seoul suggests that the Kremlin remains very concerned about the prospect of a potential South Korean turn toward providing Ukraine with much-needed military support. It also points to Kremlin concerns about the implications of deteriorating relations with Seoul for Russia’s security interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Russia has previously tried to woo Seoul to mitigate the consequences of its growing dependence on North Korea,” ISW added.
