The top diplomats of South Korea and Ukraine met Monday to discuss the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and how Seoul can assist Kyiv.

Seoul’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, held a bilateral meeting in Italy on the sidelines of a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations. 

In the meeting, Cho reportedly expressed concern that the involvement of North Korean troops had caused the Russia-Ukraine war to enter a new phase. 

He told Sybiha that the Seoul government will take phased and practical steps, corresponding to the security threats and the progress of the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. 

Ukraine’s top diplomat voiced hope that his country’s special envoy will visit South Korea in the near future to discuss the matter of the North Korean troops. 

Sybiha also said he hopes his country will continue to share information with South Korea to sternly deal with the illicit military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. 

Cho said he hopes the two nations will have a meaningful discussion when the special envoy visits Seoul.