Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened their relations significantly since the Ukraine war began, with North Korean troops even fighting and losing their lives in Ukraine. As a result, it is expected that Russia will side with North Korea in its conflict with South Korea. The Kremlin has expressed concern over South Korea's growing ties with NATO, which it sees as a threat to its security. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that it is unacceptable for South Korea to participate in NATO's rearmament efforts, as the alliance has declared its preparations for war with Russia. South Korea is not a NATO member, but it is considered a highly integrated "Indo-Pacific partner" by Brussels, with the US having a large troop presence in the country. NATO has a longstanding partnership with South Korea, which involves cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, capability development, and countering hybrid threats. Moscow views the US as an "imperialist" power that sows instability globally, and sees its own actions as a response to this perceived threat. The Russian government has made its position clear in a statement issued after a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and South Korean Ambassador to Moscow Lee Seok Bae. The statement expressed serious concern over Seoul's growing drift towards NATO and its potential participation in the alliance's rearmament efforts. Russia's stance on this issue reflects its deepening alliance with North Korea and its increasingly tense relations with the US and its allies, including South Korea and NATO.