Diplomats and experts in Seoul warned that war in Ukraine is reshaping the global security landscape and raising new risks for the Korean Peninsula, as military ties deepen between Russia and North Korea, at a panel discussion Friday.
They suggested that without closer cooperation between European and Asian democracies such as South Korea, responding to security threats will become increasingly difficult.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has evolved into a broader geopolitical confrontation, with North Korea supplying weapons and manpower to Russia, while China provides economic and diplomatic backing and Iran contributes drone technology.
These alignments, according to diplomats and experts from Ukraine, the EU and Germany, are accelerating the erosion of international norms.
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Panelists warned that negotiations could be used by Russia as a tactic to gain time rather than reach a real peace agreement.
"This war is not only about Ukraine, but about whether international law still matters," highlighted Andrii Vieshkin, charge d’affaires at the Ukraine Embassy in Seoul, reiterating Ukraine’s resilience over more than four years.
Vieshkin stressed that while Russia has failed to achieve its strategic objectives, the war remains "brutal, costly and deeply destabilizing," with continued attacks on Ukrainian cities.
He also cautioned that failure to hold aggression accountable could set dangerous precedents globally, including in the Indo-Pacific.
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"Security in Europe is closely linked to the Indo-Pacific," he said, reaffirming the bloc’s push for a "just and lasting peace," Ugo Astuto, EU ambassador to Korea, underscored in his remarks echoing interconnected regional security.
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