Official announcements from NATO or member countries

NATO Confirms North Korea's Deployment of 10,000 Troops to Russia's Kursk Region

Oct 28, 2024, 03:06 PM

North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to Russia to support Moscow's military efforts in Ukraine, increasing from an earlier estimate of 3,000 soldiers. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that North Korean troops are in Russia, calling it a "very, very serious" development with implications for both Europe and Asia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the deployment signifies Russian President Vladimir Putin's "growing desperation" and represents a "dangerous expansion" of the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine may soon have to fight against North Korean forces and called on allies to increase pressure on Russia. Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelenskyy's office, urged NATO to act, emphasizing the threat to other nations if the aggression is not stopped. Intelligence reports indicate that North Korean troops, many of whom are young and inexperienced, have been sent to Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian border. Analysts suggest that their training may not have prepared them for the conditions of the conflict in Ukraine. South Korea has expressed concern over the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with President Yoon Suk-yeol describing it as a "significant security threat" to global peace. The Pentagon announced that there are no new restrictions on Ukraine's use of American weapons against North Korean forces if they become co-belligerents in Russia's war.