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President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap) |
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that North Korea's troop deployment in Russia constituted security threats to both South Korea and the world, denouncing what he calls "illegal" military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Yoon made the remark during a Cabinet meeting amid North Korea's deployment of its troops in western Russia, with all signs suggesting that the North's troops may soon be ready for battlefield deployment against Ukraine forces.
"This illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a significant security threat to the international community and could pose a serious risk to our national security," Yoon said.
"With the war in Ukraine going on for three years, North Korea has deployed troops to Russia beyond providing weapons," Yoon said.
"We must thoroughly assess all possibilities and prepare countermeasures. I urge everyone to engage in risk management with a heightened sense of vigilance," he added.
Yoon also urged the government to proactively respond to external uncertainties ahead of the U.S. presidential election next week and geopolitical risks in the Middle East following Israel's attacks on Iran over the weekend.
"It is crucial to respond in a timely manner to ensure that our economy is not adversely affected by issues like supply chains, oil prices and exchange rates," Yoon said. (Yonhap)
