Official announcements from North Korean or Russian governments, or credible news reports

NATO Confirms North Korean Troops Deployed to Russia's Kursk Region in 'Significant Escalation' of Ukraine War

Oct 28, 2024, 12:02 PM

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and deployed in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. This deployment follows a briefing by a high-level South Korean delegation to NATO about North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. Rutte stated that the use of North Korean forces is a sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desperation after losing over 600,000 soldiers in the conflict. He called on Russia and North Korea to immediately cease these actions, condemning the deployment as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. NATO warned that the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security. North Korea has already supplied Russia with millions of munitions and ballistic missiles, and in return, Putin is providing North Korea with military technology.