The national security advisors of South Korea, the United States, and Japan convened urgently in Washington, D.C., expressing “serious concern” over North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia. The three nations also agreed to hold a trilateral summit soon to discuss a coordinated response. The meeting highlighted their shared view that North Korea’s deployment presents a security threat to the Korean Peninsula and East Asia. Analysts warn that if North Korea receives missile and nuclear submarine technology from Russia as compensation, it could destabilize regional security. Global media have noted that the Ukraine war is “no longer a distant issue for South Korea.”
However, despite the severity of the situation, South Korea’s Democratic Party (DPK) has turned this matter into a political issue. Kim Min-seok, a senior DPK member, condemned a message sent by a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker to National Security Director Shin Won-sik, suggesting North Korean troops in Ukraine be targeted for psychological warfare. Kim described this suggestion as “incitement to war” and demanded an investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) into all individuals involved in the Ukraine emergency response meeting organized by the presidential office. Kim argued that the message between the PPP lawmaker and Director Shin indicated “a preliminary conspiracy to bring the flames of the Ukraine war to Seoul” and accused the government of planning for martial law.
Although the message exchange between the ruling party lawmaker and the National Security Director may have been inappropriate, ignoring North Korea’s military deployment is not an option. Should North Korea gain nuclear and missile technology or significant funding in return, these resources could be channeled toward weapons that directly threaten South Korea. Addressing this North Korea-Russia violation of international law requires every available countermeasure and a united front among political parties. Nonetheless, the DPK has further criticized the government for briefing NATO representatives on North Korea’s military activities, claiming it was “preparatory work for the deployment of South Korean troops.”
Initially, the DPK also dismissed the government’s announcement about North Korea’s deployment, stating, “North Korea itself denies it, so the government should not engage in dangerous provocations based on unconfirmed information.” DPK leader Lee Jae-myung argued that “outdated ideological diplomacy cannot navigate the U.S.-China power struggle,” while another senior DPK lawmaker commented, “Our diplomatic missteps have driven North Korea entirely toward Russia.” Rather than focusing on the threat posed by North Korea, the DPK has concentrated on blaming the government, raising questions about whether it prioritizes national security or political interests.
