Seoul: South Korea voiced concerns Wednesday following reports that North Korea is planning to send thousands of military construction workers to Russia in support of its war in Ukraine. Russian media reports indicated that North Korea will send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Russia's Kursk region, suggesting a possible deepening of military alignment between the two nations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a presidential official in Calgary, Canada, where President Lee Jae Myung was attending the Group of Seven summit, expressed that South Korea does not support North Korea's reported troop deployment. The foreign ministry in Seoul also urged Pyongyang to halt these actions, underscoring concerns over the ongoing illegal cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

The foreign ministry stated that the deployment and hiring of North Korean workers abroad violate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. The ministry emphasized that cooperation between North Korea and Russia should adhere to UNSC resolutions and international law, ensuring no threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula or globally.

The announcement coincided with a visit by Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu to the North Korean capital, where he engaged in talks with Kim Jong Un. This visit was part of a special mission from Russian President Vladimir Putin as the two countries prepare to mark the first anniversary of their mutual defense treaty.