South Korea has issued a formal diplomatic protest against Russia following the display of a contentious banner on the exterior wall of the Russian Embassy in Seoul. The banner, featuring the phrase \”Victory will be ours\” in Russian colors, appeared over the weekend coinciding with the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.\n\nThe South Korean Foreign Ministry characterized the display as inappropriate given Seoul’s consistent position that \”Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an illegal act.\” Officials confirmed they had communicated their objections to Russian representatives regarding both the banner and recent public statements made by Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev.\n\nThe diplomatic friction intensifies amid reports that North Korea has dispatched thousands of troops to support Russian forces in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence estimates approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in combat operations. Ambassador Zinoviev had previously praised North Korean contributions to Russian military efforts in the Kursk region, comments that drew sharp criticism from Seoul.\n\nSouth Korea considers the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang a \”serious threat to our national security,\\” particularly given the technically unresolved state of war between the Koreas since the 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a permanent peace treaty. Analysts suggest North Korea receives financial assistance, military technology, and essential supplies in exchange for its troop deployments.\n\nNeither the Russian nor Ukrainian embassies in Seoul provided immediate commentary on the developing situation as diplomatic tensions continue to escalate.