Official statements from the U.S. Department of Defense or White House

U.S. Warns of Russia's Potential Acceptance of Nuclear-Armed North Korea as 10,000 Soldiers Train in Russia

Dec 19, 2024, 02:51 AM

The United States has expressed concerns at the United Nations Security Council that Russia is nearing acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, amid deepening military cooperation between the two nations. This development comes as North Korea has deployed 10,000 soldiers to Russia for training, marking a significant escalation in their military ties. The U.S. ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, highlighted Russia's potential shift from its long-standing commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. This warning follows a joint statement by foreign ministers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, condemning the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The statement specifically criticized the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for use against Ukraine, describing it as a dangerous expansion of the conflict with serious implications for European and Indo-Pacific security. North Korea has defended its military alliance with Russia, stating it is proving effective in deterring the U.S. and its allies. The situation has prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where various nations voiced their criticism of the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.