Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has called on visiting United Nations officials to deliver "stern" messages for an immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia and the cessation of their "illegal" military cooperation, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.According to Yonhap News Agency, in his meeting with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Cho emphasized that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia clearly violates U.N. Security Council resolutions and poses a threat to the international community's peace and stability.Cho also engaged in discussions with U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, where they exchanged views on the ongoing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, global nuclear disarmament, and the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. He highlighted that the North's deployment of its troops to the battlefield presents a "serious challenge" to international efforts aimed at nuclear dis armament and the prevention of nuclear weapon proliferation.The U.N. officials were in attendance at the 23rd South Korea-U.N. disarmament conference held in Seoul, which took place from Monday to Tuesday. This event provided a platform for addressing pressing disarmament issues and fostering dialogue between South Korea and U.N. representatives.In recent years, Russia and North Korea have bolstered their cooperation. Notably, in June, they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement requiring both nations to utilize all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either party is attacked.In a photo provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho Tae-yul is seen shaking hands with U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu before their meeting on the sidelines of the disarmament conference in Seoul.
- October 12, 2026
