South Korea should be wary of manipulating intelligence for political reasons or precipitate retaliation against the North for its alleged involvement in the Ukraine war, critics warn.

The comments come as Seoul reportedly considered sending an intelligence team to Ukraine. A senior security official also said South Korea could provide Ukraine with lethal weapons in response to any military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that there was evidence of North Korean troops in Russia, but it remained to be seen what they would do there.

“There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia,” Austin told reporters in Rome, using North Korea’s official name – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“What exactly are they doing?” It remains to be seen. These are things we need to address,” Austin added.