Written by Kenji Tanaka |
South Korea National Intelligence Service confirmed that a North Korean special operations brigade of approximately 1500 troops has been embedded with Russian forces in western Ukraine. NIS chief Cho Kyoung-tae told a closed-door parliamentary briefing that the troops were operating near Kharkiv as part of a Russian assault formation. South Korea foreign ministry summoned Russia ambassador and demanded immediate withdrawal. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called it a significant escalation that changes the nature of this conflict.
Sources: Yonhap, Reuters, AP, BBC, The Guardian, NK News, Seoul Shinmun, JoongAng Ilbo