One and a half thousand North Korean military personnel are already at Russian training grounds in the Far East, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said. It is alleged that from there they will go to fight in Ukraine. This is only the first batch of North Korean soldiers to join the Russian army. In total, as they found out in Seoul, it is planned to send 12 thousand soldiers in the near future. The South Korean diplomatic department said that they consider this a security threat. And they demand that Moscow take immediate action to withdraw North Korean troops from the conflict zone. Otherwise, according to media reports, Seoul may also send its military to Ukraine. Possible response scenarios also include the transfer of weapons to Kyiv for defense and attack. It is unlikely that Pyongyang will be able to convince Pyongyang to withdraw North Korean soldiers - they continue to insist that no military personnel were sent. Moscow also calls such messages disinformation. So, direct participation in the conflict by Seoul is quite likely. About the role of the South Korean military in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the likelihood of the outbreak of World War III, TRT spoke in Russian with Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military expert Vladislav Seleznev: - Let's start with the fact that South Korea is one of the leading manufacturers of weapons and equipment. The country ranks eighth in the world in the export of high-tech weapons: tanks, combat vehicles, missiles, drones. This is the equipment that makes the conflict a fourth-generation war - when it is not so much people who fight as equipment and technology. The South Korean army has unique experience in confrontation with the DPRK. And this is very important. — What are the expectations from cooperation with South Korea? — In this context, the expectations are very high. I believe that, first of all, the emphasis will be on access to modern technologies, obtaining weapons, equipment and ammunition. And given that there are currently no direct deliveries from Seoul, there will be a chance to get this option, which will affect the speed of receiving cargo. We can also talk about go about directly attracting relevant specialists from South Korea. That is, exactly what many publications are actively writing about. This includes consultations regarding the possibilities of countering the methods and algorithms of combat operations that the DPRK army personnel are trained in. - That is, it will be possible to gain an advantage at the front? - Of course. If we talk about the confrontation between the army of the DPRK and South Korea, then North Korea is trying to realize its advantage through quantity, and Seoul - through the quality and high technology of weapons. - Will this really be possible to implement or can everything stop at the stage of statements? - Now it makes sense to monitor very carefully all statements from Seoul through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And we see that they are quite categorical. There is no duality or uncertainty there. They are absolutely clear about their dissatisfaction with the rapprochement between the Russian Federation and the DPRK and are ready to make efforts to neutralize the presence of North Korean soldiers on the battlefield. Seoul clearly understands that such a collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang can lead to a significant strengthening of the military potential of the North Korean army. Therefore, they will oppose such a process. - Could the war in Ukraine develop into something larger with the participation of other countries? - Now many are saying that the Third World War could begin in the Middle East. But the definition of a world war involves more than 2 countries involved in the conflict. Iran, Belarus and North Korea are directly related to the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation. So now we can say that the Third World War has begun. Let’s not forget that the Second World War happened back in 1939. But during and at the end of 1939-1940, there were still some illusions and expectations that it would be possible to resolve this issue through political agreements and discussion. But it didn’t work out. In principle, we are seeing the same thing now. Although someone is trying to live in a world of illusions and claim that the war in Ukraine is a regional conflict.