Merz in Seoul: North Korea threatens Europe's security with troops fighting alongside Russia

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Seoul that North Korea is threatening freedom across Europe by sending soldiers to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. He spoke after meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, according to the German news agency DPA, as cited by ATSH (the Albanian Telegraphic Agency). “The world is small, even in wartime,” Merz said, stressing that the two countries' security is directly linked.

Weapons in exchange for military help

According to Merz, Russia sends weapons to North Korea in exchange for the help Pyongyang provides in the war against Ukraine. North Korea has sent Russia large quantities of munitions and missiles, while South Korea's intelligence service estimates that about 15,000 North Korean soldiers are fighting with Russian forces. Observers believe Moscow is offering Pyongyang financial aid, military technology and security guarantees.

The two leaders agreed to deepen security and defense cooperation, with more military exchanges, joint exercises and intelligence sharing. They also called on German and South Korean defense companies to work together more closely.

Missiles before the visit

Before Merz arrived in Seoul, the South Korean military reported that North Korea had fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Last week Seoul proposed resuming talks with the North, but Pyongyang has shown no willingness. Lee said Merz offered Germany's support for inter-Korean dialogue.

In the guestbook, Merz wrote that Germany and Korea are linked by the “painful experience of division” and expressed hope that Koreans will experience reunification in freedom, as Germans did after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Seoul is the last stop of his Asia tour, which included Singapore and Japan; on Oct. 30 he is expected to visit the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas.