U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a phone conversation on Nov. 7, following Trump’s election win, to discuss future cooperation between their countries.
Among the topics discussed were North Korea’s advancing nuclear capabilities, recent missile tests, and a reported deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, as reported by South Korean news agency Yonhap.
According to reports, Pyongyang has dispatched approximately 12,000 soldiers to bolster Moscow's forces in the embattled Kursk Oblast.
Details of the call were not fully disclosed.
However, Trump’s return to the White House in January introduces uncertainty regarding continued U.S. support for Ukraine, as the president-elect has previously indicated a desire to reduce aid and negotiate with Moscow.
Trump has often touted his close relationships with authoritarian leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
During the 12-minute conversation, Trump and Yoon also discussed strengthening trilateral relations between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, explored cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, and agreed to meet in person in the near future.
