The following article is an opinion piece by Sung-Yoon Lee, a professor of Korean studies at Tufts University. Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.

Since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, Western governments have expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats in protest of Moscow’s war and out of concern that they operate as spies. A recent op-ed argued countries should even go further and expel all Russian diplomats because they act as propagandists for the war.

But while the Kremlin’s invasion has spurred global action, Russia is