Fiuggi: The top diplomats of South Korea, Canada, France, and Italy have voiced concerns over the threat posed by North Korea's troop deployment to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. They pledged to work collaboratively for a concerted response, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry on Wednesday.According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul discussed these concerns during separate talks with his counterparts from Canada, France, and Italy. These discussions took place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' gathering in Fiuggi, Italy. It was revealed that North Korea has dispatched more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia, with some already engaged in combat in Russia's western Kursk border region.In a meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Cho shared updates on the troop deployment and outlined South Korea's plan for "effective, phased" measures in response to the security threats posed by the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Joly emphasized the importance of addressing this issue for the security of both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region and pledged continued cooperation with South Korea.During a separate meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, both ministers expressed their "serious concerns" regarding the threats posed by North Korea's actions and the collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang. They acknowledged the potential risks to regional security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.In talks with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Cho and Tajani committed to a "united and stern" international response to the situation. They also discussed the strong trade and investment ties between their countries, with Tajani highlighting the importance of South Korea as a partner in Italy's expansion into the Indo-Pacific markets.
- October 12, 2026
