NATO said for the first time that North Korean troops have deployed to Russia and are operating in the Kursk border area where Ukrainian troops have a foothold.
Mark Rutte, the alliance’s secretary-general, said he was likely to confirm the deployment after weeks of speculation after meeting with South Korean intelligence and defense officials on Monday.
The newly appointed NATO secretary-general said the deployment represented a “significant escalation” and “dangerous expansion” of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Last week, President Vladimir Putin refused to deny that North Korean troops had arrived in Russia amid reports that Pyongyang was preparing to send thousands of troops to aid its allies.
South Korea’s spy agency said earlier this month that at least 1,500 North Korean troops had arrived in Russia, prompting Seoul to issue a stern diplomatic rebuke to Moscow.
But Rutte’s intervention on Monday marked the first time NATO has officially acknowledged that Pyongyang’s forces are operating in Russia. He added that North Korea has shipped millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine.
Rutte said that in return, President Putin agreed to provide military technology and other support to help North Korea evade international sanctions. He added that such partnerships were “undermining global peace and security.”
His warnings about North Korean military operations in Kursk will cause concern in Western capitals. Clashes between the forces of Moscow and Kiev continue nearly two months after Ukrainian troops first entered the region in a surprise operation.
