South Korean media claimed on Monday that Seoul could send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine after the North sent troops to support Russia in the war.

A report states that South Korea’s government and military are “reviewing a plan to send an appropriate number of personnel, including intelligence officers (specialized in North Korea) and experts in enemy tactics”, to Ukraine, citing a South Korean intelligence official.

South Korean personnel in Ukraine would interrogate or provide interpretation services if North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces, the report said. They would also provide Kiev with information on the North’s military tactics, doctrines and operations.

The South’s Defense Ministry said at a press conference later on Monday that it will review measures with “an open mind” regarding the possible supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. Seoul provided humanitarian aid to Kiev during the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The report and comments from South Korea came after the country’s intelligence agency claimed on Friday that North Korea, ruled by Kim Jong Un, had decided to send 12,000 special forces to support Russia, including 1,500 already in the Russian Far East.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that North Korea “intends to prepare 10,000 soldiers from various branches of the armed forces” to fight alongside Russia, warning that the North’s involvement is “the first step towards a world war” could be.

North Korea has reportedly sent thousands of containers of ammunition to Russia. Last month, Ukraine’s military spy chief said the North’s support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts is the “worst problem” facing Kiev from Moscow’s allies.

The Kremlin on Monday declined to answer questions about Russia’s alleged plan to use North Korean soldiers in its so-called “special military operation” against Ukraine, claiming that “we see a lot of conflicting information” from South Korea and its ally the United States.

“North Korea is our closest neighbor, our partner, and we are developing our relations in all areas,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to state media. “No one should worry about this, because this cooperation is not aimed at third countries.”

Improved military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has become a matter of mutual interest for South Korea and NATO. The US-led alliance has been supporting Ukraine since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

During a phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday denounced military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and said his country will actively take “phased measures” in response.

Yoon’s office said South Korean President Rutte had told him he would immediately send officials to facilitate information sharing and take measures to strengthen security cooperation.

Pyongyang has neither denied nor confirmed the allegations about troop deployments in Russia. Newsweek has contacted the North Korean embassy in China by email for comment.