SOUTH KOREA PERSPECTIVE

South Korea: for Seoul, the striking fact of May 9, 2026 is not the parade's reduced size, but what walked in it for the first time — North Korean soldiers in Russian ranks. The Korea Times and Yonhap news agency cover the event with particular attention: Kim Jong-un sent a message of solidarity to Putin, reaffirming that relations with Russia are 'the absolute priority' of Pyongyang. For South Korea, a U.S. ally and direct neighbor of North Korea, this visible military presence in Moscow is an alarm signal. It confirms that North Korean troops sent to Russia in 2025 have acquired real combat experience, and that Pyongyang is now officially integrated into the Russian war effort — with direct implications for the military balance in Northeast Asia.