NATO press releases or major news agency reports

NATO Confirms North Korea Sent 10,000 Troops to Russia to Aid in Ukraine War

Oct 28, 2024, 12:47 PM

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, deploying military units to the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border. The Pentagon estimates that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia to train and fight in Ukraine in the coming weeks, with an initial group of 1,500 soldiers already training in the Far East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously warned that Ukraine would be forced to fight against North Korean troops. A South Korean delegation briefed NATO on North Korea's troop deployment, highlighting concerns over the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. This development is seen as a significant escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine and a sign of President Vladimir Putin's growing desperation. The deployment violates UN Security Council resolutions, and NATO calls on Russia and North Korea to immediately cease these actions. The presence of North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region poses a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security.