Official announcements from countries and international organizations

Russia Deploys 7,000 North Korean Soldiers to Ukraine Border; First Soldier Captured, Troops Under Fire in Kursk Oblast

Nov 3, 2024, 04:05 PM

Russia has deployed 7,000 North Korean soldiers to areas bordering Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Washington and Kyiv have warned that these troops are expected to enter combat alongside Russia’s army in the coming days, a claim backed by U.S. officials Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks on the presence of North Korean troops have raised international concerns about the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. The first North Korean soldier has already been captured by Ukrainian forces, and reports indicate that North Korean troops have come under fire in Russia's Kursk Oblast. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern about this development, calling it a dangerous escalation of the war. The situation has prompted calls for a decisive global response to prevent further escalation.