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Trump, South Korean president discuss North Korean troops joining Russia's war

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Trump, South Korean president discuss North Korean troops joining Russia's war
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers remarks during a joint news conference with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio following three-way talks at Camp David on August 18, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a phone call on Nov. 7 after the former won the U.S. presidential election, discussing future cooperation.

The topics of their discussion included North Korea, namely its developing nuclear capabilities, missile tests, and a dispatch of troops to assist Russia's war against Ukraine, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

Pyongyang reportedly dispatched around 12,000 soldiers to support Moscow's forces in embattled Kursk Oblast in an unprecedented escalation of the war against Ukraine.

Details of the conversation were not disclosed. Trump's return to the White House in January spells uncertainty for the future U.S. support for Ukraine as the president-elect has signaled intent to cut down aid and seek a deal with Moscow.

Trump has also often boasted about warm relations with authoritarian leaders and dictators like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In the 12-minute conversation, Trump and Yoon further discussed a trilateral relationship between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, shipbuilding industry cooperation, and agreed to meet in person in near future.

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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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