SEOUL, South Korea — On Tuesday, South Korea expressed that it might contemplate providing military assistance to Ukraine in light of North Korea allegedly sending troops to Russia. Both North Korea and Russia have denied these allegations.

The South Korean government’s statement appears to be aimed at dissuading Russia from utilizing North Korean forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. South Korean officials are concerned that collaboration between Russia and North Korea could lead to the latter receiving advanced weapon technology, which would enhance its nuclear capabilities and missile programs targeted at South Korea.

During an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, leading South Korean figures denounced the alleged troop deployment from North Korea as a significant security risk not only to South Korea but also to the global community. The South Korean presidential office branded North Korea as “a criminal group” for allegedly coercing its youth into serving as mercenaries in what they characterize as an unprovoked war.

Officials concluded that they would implement a series of measured responses, adjusting their actions based on the developments in military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The potential responses could include diplomatic, economic, and military measures, with discussions indicating that South Korea could look into providing both defensive and offensive weaponry to Ukraine, as shared by a senior official who requested anonymity during a briefing.

The official revealed concerns that North Korea could be attempting to acquire high-end Russian technology to modernize its nuclear missile capabilities. The possibility of Russian assistance in enhancing North Korea’s older conventional weapons systems and acquiring advanced surveillance capabilities in space poses a considerable security challenge for South Korea as well.

Since the initiation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has participated in U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and has extended humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine. However, it has refrained from directly exporting arms in adherence to its policy of not supplying weapons to nations actively engaged in warfare.

Last week, South Korea’s intelligence agency verified that North Korea had dispatched 1,500 special operations forces to Russia within this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that his administration had intelligence indicating that North Korea was preparing to send up to 10,000 soldiers to support the Russian invasion efforts.

There has been a marked increase in cooperation between North Korea and Russia in the past two years. The two nations signed a prominent defense agreement in June, reinforcing their commitment to providing immediate military support if either nation was attacked. Following this, South Korea had indicated that it would contemplate arms assistance to Ukraine, a sentiment echoed again in recent statements.

According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, since August 2023, North Korea is believed to have sent more than 13,000 containers filled with artillery, missiles, and other arms to Russia to replenish its depleting stockpiles.

Both North Korea and Russia have categorically refuted claims regarding the troop dispatch and the alleged transfer of weapons.

During a U.N. Security Council meeting, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador dismissed South Korea’s assertions, alongside Western claims regarding Iranian military aid to Russia and Chinese components for weaponry. He accused Western nations of “spreading fear with outlandish claims involving Iranian, Chinese, and Korean threats, each one more ludicrous than the last.”

At another U.N. meeting, a North Korean diplomat contended that his delegation had no obligation to respond to allegations of troop movement, labeling them as “baseless, stereotype rumors” intended to tarnish the reputation of North Korea and undermine sovereign relations between nations.

While the U.S. and NATO have not yet verified the claims about North Korean troop deployments, they have acknowledged the dangers such a scenario could present if accurate.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood stated that, if true, this troop movement represents “a dangerous and very concerning development,” and emphasized that the U.S. was “engaging with allies and partners regarding this significant shift.”