NATO: North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine would be a significant escalation

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that a deployment of North Korean troops to fight alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine would be a major escalation.

After speaking with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol about the situation, he posted this statement on X. They discussed NATO-Seoul defense cooperation, security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, and NATO’s alliance with Seoul.

“North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine would mark a significant escalation,” Mark Rutte said.

NATO Secretary General has discussed with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol the reports of a possible deployment of North Korean troops to participate in the Russia-Ukraine war on Moscow’s side. Mark Rutte also stated at the press-conference that North Korea supports Russian in its war efforts in many ways.

“We are also worried by the role that North Korea is playing in that access, together with China, Iran, and Russia supporting Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. We have no evidence that North Korean soldiers are envolved in the fight. But we do know that North Korea supports Russia in many ways, including weapon supplies, technological supplies, and innovations to support war efforts,” said Mark Rutte.

North Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine war

On October 13, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that North Korea was supplying Russia not only with weapons but also with personnel for its military forces and called on Western partners to increase their support for Ukraine. On October 14, Zelenskyy announced that North Korea had actually joined the war. On October 17, he clarified that Russia intends to involve about 10,000 soldiers from North Korea in the war against Ukraine.

On October 18, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed that about 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are currently undergoing training in eastern Russia. They will be ready to participate in hostilities against Ukraine as early as November 1. Video footage purportedly showing North Koreans receiving Russian gear and uniforms was published on Telegram channels.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has reported that North Korea has already sent 1,500 special forces to the war in Ukraine to help Russia. They have already arrived in Russia, according to the South Koran intelligence.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Seoul Georgy Zinoviev to protest against the deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine. According to South Korean media, Seoul may send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine after North Korea sent its troops to support Russia in the war.

According to Yonhap, North Korea’s representative to the United Nations confirmed the cooperation between the DPRK and Russia during a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. At the same time, he declined to comment on the news that his country was sending its troops to fight against Ukraine, calling it “groundless rumours”.