Seoul: The EU foreign policy chief has highlighted the urgent need for stronger EU-South Korea cooperation following North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia. Josep Borrell, speaking before an EU-South Korea Strategic Dialogue in Seoul, emphasized the significance of this collaboration due to the involvement of North Korean troops in the ongoing conflict.
According to Anadolu Agency, Borrell noted that the geopolitical tensions, technological risks, and climate change present mutual threats to the EU and South Korea. He pointed out that the Indo-Pacific region is pivotal to global changes such as digital transformation and climate change, alongside the geopolitical rise of China. He stressed the interconnectedness of political, economic, and security developments across various regions and the necessity for coordinated international responses.
Borrell elaborated on the interconnected nature of the conflicts in the Korean Peninsula and Ukraine, despite their geographical distance. He stated that the pres
ence of North Korean forces in Russia accentuates the need for a shared security agenda and enhances the urgency for collaborative efforts between the EU and South Korea.
The situation escalated after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to North Korea in June, where both nations signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on October 25 that Russia is deploying North Korean troops to active combat zones. The United States estimates that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia, with 8,000 near the Ukrainian border in the Kursk region.