NATO confirms North Korean troops joined Russia in fighting against Ukraine, US warns

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on October 28 that North Korean soldiers had joined their Russian counterparts in Kursk against Ukrainian forces, according to ABC News. The official said that this move by North Korea was a major escalation in its involvement in Russia's campaign, a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a dangerous expansion of the conflict.

Members of a North Korean military school during an artillery display.

Mr. Rutte, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, called on Russia and North Korea to immediately stop the above actions.

On the same day, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said an estimated 10,000 North Korean troops had been sent to eastern Russia for training, and some of them had moved closer to Ukraine. Ms. Singh did not confirm that North Korean troops were fighting or supporting the fight against Ukraine in Kursk, but expressed concern about the intention.

In the event that North Korean troops enter the war against Ukrainian forces, Kyiv will face no new restrictions on the use of US weapons to counter them, Reuters quoted Ms. Singh as warning.

Earlier, a North Korean representative at the United Nations refused to comment on such "baseless rumors." Russian President Vladimir Putin did not comment directly on the information but stated that the implementation of the defense cooperation agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang was up to the two sides to decide.

Commenting on the above accusations from NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow on October 28 that Western mercenaries, volunteers and trainers have been fighting for Ukraine, according to TASS. Mr. Lavrov said that the Ukrainian army could not use missiles and long-range weapons without Western experts and satellite intelligence data.

"Western military personnel have been operating in Ukraine for a long time. It is part of the hybrid war that NATO and the European Union are waging against our country and we know it well," Mr. Lavov said, answering a question about the possibility of Western troops being deployed to Ukraine in response to North Korea's support for Russia.

The top diplomat also stressed that the cooperation agreement between Russia and North Korea is public, does not violate international law, and allows the two sides to support each other in the event of a military attack on one side.

"Our position is absolutely honest and transparent, while the deceitful statements of Western countries that they will send troops under some pretext serve no other purpose than to justify what they have already done," Lavrov said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nato-xac-nhan-quan-trieu-tien-da-tham-chien-cung-nga-chong-ukraine-my-canh-bao-18524102822460046.htm