NATO confirms the deployment of North Korean troops against which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned his allies two weeks ago. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speculated that the sending of troops from Pyongyang came after a high-level meeting with South Korea in which he shared intelligence information. “Today I can confirm the sending of North Korean troops to Russia and the deployment of North Korean military units in the Kursk region,” the Dutchman solemnly said about sending 10,000 to 12 000 North Korean soldiers on the Russian front.
After the meeting, Rutte warned that this cooperation between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin represented a “significant escalation” in the Russian attack on Ukraine and assured that the deployment of North Korean troops represented “another violation” resolutions of the UN Security Council. Council and a “dangerous expansion” of war. In fact, he warned that it was a “threat” to the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions and urged Putin and Kim Jong-un to “immediately” cease the deployment of troops from a second country.
Furthermore, Rutte assured that cooperation from Russia or North Korea “undermines peace” on the Korean Peninsula and global security. “Pyongyang has already supplied Russia with millions of munitions and ballistic missiles that are fueling a major conflict in the heart of Europe and undermining global peace and security. In return, Putin provides North Korea with military technology and other aid to evade international sanctions,” he added in a no-questions-asked statement to reporters after the meeting with the South Korean delegation, which reported to the North Atlantic Council and North Atlantic Council partners. the Indo-Pacific region – Australia, Japan and New Zealand – of the situation.
Rutte called for “unity” among Ukraine’s allies: “NATO allies will continue to support a free and democratic Ukraine, because Ukraine’s security is our security. »
But he also assured that North Korea’s involvement demonstrated Putin’s “desperation”: “More than 600,000 Russian soldiers have died or been injured in the war in Russia.” [Presidente] Putin, and he is unable to continue his assault on Ukraine without foreign support. It’s because Ukrainians are fighting back with courage, resilience and ingenuity.” The same interpretation was made by the United States. “Putin has become so desperate that he may now seek support from North Korea to send his troops to the battlefield,” Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at a news conference. last Thursday.
At the latest meeting with EU leaders, which Zelensky attended in person in Brussels, he warned them of the preparation of some 10,000 North Korean troops to join Vladimir Putin’s troops. “This is the first step towards a world war,” he said.
Meanwhile, also on Monday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said North Korea had sent some 10,000 troops to Russia to train and fight in Ukraine in “the coming weeks,” according to the agency. Associated Press.
Some of these soldiers, according to Singh, have already approached Ukraine. “We are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region,” he said. to journalists. Ukrainian forces launched a surprise raid last August in this border region, where they have maintained positions since then.
