Nato has confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, specifically in the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces are also present. This announcement comes from the alliance's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, after a meeting with South Korean intelligence and defense officials.
Rutte characterized this deployment as a "significant escalation" and a "dangerous expansion" of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. This follows President Vladimir Putin's ambiguous response to earlier reports regarding the arrival of North Korean troops, which suggested that Pyongyang was preparing to send thousands to support its ally.
South Korea's intelligence agency reported that at least 1,500 North Korean soldiers had already been deployed to Russia, prompting a stern diplomatic protest from Seoul. Rutte's comments mark the first official acknowledgment from Nato that North Korean forces are actively operating in Russia. He further revealed that North Korea has supplied millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles to Moscow for use in the conflict.
In exchange, President Putin is set to provide military technology and other assistance to North Korea, enabling the country to circumvent international sanctions. Rutte emphasized that this partnership poses a serious threat to global peace and security. The presence of North Korean troops in Kursk raises significant concerns in Western capitals, especially as clashes continue between Russian and Ukrainian forces nearly two months after Ukrainian troops launched a surprise operation in the area.
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