Seoul: South Korea on Thursday called for an immediate cessation of illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. This appeal coincided with the first anniversary of the North and Russia's mutual defense treaty, which South Korea claims is being used to justify North Korea's troop deployment to Russia.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty was signed on June 19 last year in Pyongyang by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The treaty obligates each country to provide prompt assistance to the other in the event of an armed attack.

In a separate development, Lee Jong-seok, the nominee for the National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief, pledged during his parliamentary confirmation hearing to promote "unwavering" peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee, who has previously served as principal deputy national security adviser and unification minister, was nominated under President Lee Jae Myung, who is committed to reducing hostilities and resuming dialogue with North Korea.

Despite halting loudspeaker broadcasts against North Korea, the South Korean military is proceeding with scheduled artillery drills near the North Korean border, officials confirmed. The drills, involving self-propelled howitzers, are to be conducted by the Army's 7th Division at a front-line range in Hwacheon.

Concerns were also raised by South Korea following reports of North Korea's plans to send military construction workers to Russia to support its efforts in Ukraine. Russian media had reported that North Korea intends to dispatch 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to the Kursk region, indicating a possible deepening of military ties between the two nations.

In response to ongoing anti-North Korea leaflet campaigns, South Korean police will deploy mobile units to border areas. This decision follows a directive from President Lee Jae-myung to prevent leaflet launches and enforce laws against such actions in an effort to improve relations with North Korea.

President Lee Jae-myung also expressed his commitment to restoring dialogue with North Korea to ease tensions and foster peace. He shared this message on his Facebook account in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the June 15 Declaration, a historic agreement between South Korea and North Korea signed in 2000.