Official statements from South Korean or U.S. government, or credible news agencies

NATO Confirms North Korean Troops in Russia; South Korea Sends Delegation Led by Hong Jang-won

Oct 28, 2024, 01:39 AM

South Korea is sending a high-level delegation led by Deputy Director Hong Jang-won to Brussels to brief NATO about North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, with North Korean military units reportedly deployed to the Kursk region near Ukraine's border. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, calling it a significant escalation and a sign of President Vladimir Putin's desperation after losing over 600,000 soldiers in the war against Ukraine. NATO has called on North Korea to withdraw its forces. South Korea may send a monitoring team to Ukraine to study North Korean tactics and consider direct arms support. The United States expressed grave concern over the possible use of North Korean troops against Ukraine. In response to these developments, South Korea and the United States are scheduled to hold talks among their foreign and defense chiefs in Washington on October 31, where the issue of North Korean troops in Russia is expected to be a key topic.