Josep Borrell, the top EU diplomat, visited South Korea on Nov. 4 amid rising concerns over North Korean troops joining Russia's war against Ukraine.
"Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat. The Republic of Korea is best positioned to understand it," Borrell said on X after meeting South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun.
"We are united in our support to Ukraine. I encouraged them to step it up."
The deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has sparked discussions in Seoul on revising its stance on military supplies for Ukraine.
North Korea is believed to have dispatched 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia to join the war against Ukraine. Some 8,000 soldiers have been reportedly deployed in Kursk Oblast, a Russian border region partially held by Ukrainian forces.
South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid but not with lethal assistance, as the country's legislation prevents direct arms supplies to war zones.
According to some media reports, South Korea has provided Ukraine with artillery shells indirectly via the U.S., but direct supplies of 155 mm rounds are currently not on the table.
During his visit, Borrell visited the fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing South Korea and North Korea. The European diplomat said he aims to raise the cooperation between the EU and Seoul to "the next level."
Chris York
