As the Ukraine-Russia war continues, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev visited Pyongyang on the 17th and held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea has agreed to send 6,000 personnel to Russia's western Kursk region to assist in mine-clearing and reconstruction efforts.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry condemned this move as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, calling on both Russia and North Korea to immediately cease illegal cooperation. This marks Patrushev's third visit to North Korea in three months, indicating a steadily expanding cooperation between the two sides.

According to reports from the Russian News Agency, Kim Jong-un agreed to send 1,000 mine-clearance personnel and 5,000 military construction workers to Kursk to assist with the reconstruction of roads and communication facilities. Additionally, a monument will be built for North Korean soldiers who fell in the area, showcasing the cooperative relationship between Russia and North Korea. Patrushev described the ties between Russia and Kim Jong-un as a ‘brotherhood’.

Many observers believe that Kim Jong-un is likely to visit Moscow again after 2023 for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, the South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a clear condemnation, asserting that the acceptance and employment of North Korean workers abroad violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, expressing concern over the ongoing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and demanding an immediate cessation of these activities. South Korea will also continue to monitor Russia-North Korea cooperation in collaboration with its allies, including the United States.