Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev said on Monday that Russia's cooperation with North Korea is not directed against South Korea's interests. Zinoviev was summoned by the South Korean Foreign Ministry following intelligence suggesting North Korea is sending 12,000 troops to fight on Russia's side against Ukraine. South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun said the development is a "serious security threat not only to our country but also to the international community" and is in violation of international law.
According to the Russian Embassy in Seoul, Zinoviev said Russia and South Korea "have opposing positions" on the cause of the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He also insisted that Russia-North Korea cooperation is within the framework of international law. The two countries recently concluded a strategic treaty, which includes the possibility of a security partnership.
