Amid speculation that North Korea is sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, Russia's lower house of parliament voted to ratify a treaty with North Korea that would provide mutual assistance in the case of aggression from an outside force. The move has raised concerns in South Korea, with its spy agency claiming that thousands of North Korean soldiers are currently training in Russia and are likely to be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine soon. This development comes as Western countries accuse North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for its offensive in Ukraine.
In a recent development in the ongoing tensions between the two Koreas, South Korea has reported that a balloon carrying trash from North Korea landed in the presidential compound in Seoul. This incident has caused further strain on the already fragile relationship between the two nations. Stay updated and informed on this issue with our 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events.
In a press conference in Rome, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that there is evidence of North Korean troops in Russia, known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited intelligence suggesting the presence of up to 12,000 North Korean troops in Russia, who would support Russian forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. South Korean lawmakers have also reported that North Korea has recently sent 3,000 troops to Russia, doubling previous estimates. This revelation raises concerns about the potential involvement of North Korea in the Ukraine crisis and adds further tension to the already volatile situation.
In a concerning move, 12,000 North Korean soldiers are set to arrive in the Kursk region of Russia today to support Vladimir Putin's forces. The region has been partially occupied by Ukrainian forces since August, and the arrival of these troops has raised tensions even higher. Ukraine's military intelligence has confirmed the deployment, but the exact number of troops and their weapons is still unknown. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on allies to take action against this move, stating that it is not just a war in Europe, but an invasion that must be stopped.
As tensions rise between North Korea and Ukraine, South Korea vows to take action in response to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. In addition to potential advisors and heavy weapons being sent to Ukraine, there are also reports of fighter pilots being sent to Russia. This military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is seen as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and poses a significant security threat to the international community. As the situation develops, South Korea is prepared to take "phased measures" in response to their military ties.
For the first time in 25 years, the popular French complex arts group 'Shazam' will be performing in Korea. The group, known for their unique blend of acrobatics, music, and visual effects, is set to put on a spectacular show in Incheon. Fans are eagerly awaiting the performance, especially after the recent news of the group's lead singer's successful surgery.
South Korea's foreign ministry has called the Russian ambassador to discuss North Korea's reported dispatch of 1,500 troops to train and potentially fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. VP Foreign Minister Kim expressed strong condemnation, while the Russian embassy stated that their cooperation with North Korea is in line with international law and not directed against South Korea. The U.S. and NATO also expressed concern and potential escalation if these reports are confirmed.
The debate over South Korea's right to reprocess nuclear fuel has been reignited in the midst of escalating tensions with North Korea. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong of the South Korean Embassy in Washington stated that the government will discuss the issue with the new U.S. administration. This comes as North Korea continues to ramp up its nuclear weapons programs and hostile language towards South Korea. With growing internal calls for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons, some argue that the country should at least have the reprocessing right, similar to Japan. However, this process is subject to further negotiation under the U.S.-South Korean Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, accused US President Joe Biden of using nuclear arms talks as a ploy to gain electoral points for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. Lavrov also revealed that Moscow is against engaging in strategic stability talks without preconditions, as urged by the US, in order to prevent any unilateral military advantages. This comes ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections on November 5, in which Harris was selected as the Democratic nominee after Biden's withdrawal following a controversial televised debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump.
In a retaliatory move against anti-Pyongyang leaflets being launched by activists and North Korean defectors in South Korea, North Korea has launched over 5,000 trash-filled balloons towards South Korea. However, amidst this act, South Korea has captured satellite images of North Korean troop movement towards Russia, with evidence of 12,000 troops being deployed to support the ongoing war in Ukraine. While two of the images were attributed to Airbus, the third image was taken by a satellite that South Korea has been operating, equipped with synthetic aperture radar that can collect data regardless of weather.