During a closed briefing at the National Security Council of South Korea, attended by a BBC correspondent, new intelligence regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia was discussed.
South Korea estimates the total number of North Korean personnel in Russia to be around 11,000.
Of these, approximately 3,000 are already located in the western part of the country and are undergoing training.
Some of the troops may be sent to the Kursk region, while others could be directed to Donbas. South Korean intelligence is monitoring these movements, as reported by a high-ranking official under the condition of anonymity during the briefing.
It was noted that North Korean soldiers are dressed in Russian uniforms and armed with Russian weapons to conceal their origin.
Among the North Korean contingent in Russia are generals and high-ranking officers, but the majority are infantry soldiers.
Seoul cannot confirm whether North Korean troops have already engaged in combat, nor whether they have suffered any casualties.
A government representative also stated that there has been no decision on how to respond and that they are not ready to establish any red lines—actions that would prompt an inevitable response.
If Seoul decides to supply weapons to Kyiv, it will start with defensive armaments, the South Korean official added.
Western media and experts have reported that Ukraine is receiving a significant amount of weapons and ammunition produced in South Korea, although not directly, but through third countries such as the United States.
Background. The day before, Zelensky reported that Ukraine and South Korea are exchanging intelligence regarding the movements of North Korean troops.