SEOUL: South Korea's government announced plans to implement "effective and phased" measures following confirmation that North Korean troops have been deployed to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. This development comes after the nation's National Intelligence Service verified that North Korean soldiers are actively participating in combat operations in Russia's Kursk region. According to Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean unification ministry official, speaking anonymously, emphasized that the government's response would be grounded in composure and discipline. The official criticized North Korea for sending its troops into an "unjustifiable" conflict and withholding this information from its citizens, characterizing the regime's actions as deceptive. The intelligence confirmation from both the United States and South Korea has not prompted any official acknowledgment from North Korea. There is speculation that North Korea may issue a statement following the exchange of ratification instruments re lated to a mutual defense treaty with Russia. Earlier reports from North Korean state media detailed the ratification of a strategic partnership between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was signed in June. This agreement has strengthened military ties between the two countries, aligning them closely in the event of conflict.