By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who is attending the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (November 25-26, Fiuggi, Italy), held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Nov. 25 to exchange views on the war in Ukraine, including the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, and Korea's support for Ukraine.
 

Minister Cho emphasized that the security of the Korean Peninsula and Europe are more closely linked than ever before due to illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including North Korea's arms transfers and deployment to Russia.

He also expressed concern that the war in Ukraine has entered a new phase with the deployment of North Korean troops, and said that the ROK government will take effective measures in stages to counter the progress of Russo-North Korean military cooperation and threats to our security.

Minister Sibyha emphasized the need to respond to North Korea's deployment, noting that it raises common security concerns for both countries, and expressed his hope that the Ukrainian envoy will visit South Korea in the near future to continue discussions, and that his government will continue to closely share relevant trends and information with South Korea in order to strictly respond to illegal Russo-DPRK military cooperation.

Minister Sibiha expressed appreciation for the South Korean government's support for Ukraine.

Minister Cho said that the ROK government will continue to implement the multifaceted support for the Ukrainian people based on the “Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative” announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol during his visit to Kyiv last July, and looks forward to meaningful consultations with the Ukrainian envoy during his visit.

The meeting, the first between the two ministers since taking office, is seen as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for closer cooperation with Ukraine to effectively counter illegal Russian-DPRK military cooperation, and to affirm the Seoul government's solidarity and support for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction.