NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed his opinion on the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russian territory, describing it as a sign of the "desperation" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rutte pointed out that over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been affected in Putin's war, indicating that he cannot sustain his attack on Ukraine without external support.
In Brussels, Rutte also emphasized that this situation involves a significant escalation in North Korean involvement in the conflict, representing a threat to the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. He added that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea constitutes a dangerous expansion of the Russian war.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his concern over reports of North Korean troops on the Ukrainian front. Tajani committed to providing military and financial support to Ukraine as the country holding the rotating G7 presidency. He stated that the presence of North Korean soldiers represents a new strategic challenge for European security, with the risk of escalating the conflict.
NATO confirmed that North Korean troops were sent to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. According to Rutte, North Korean military units were deployed in the Kursk region, where Russia is facing a Ukrainian incursion. These statements came after a meeting in Brussels where a South Korean delegation informed NATO's national ambassadors about the situation.
In summary, the presence of North Korean troops supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine has raised concerns in various countries and within NATO. Italian and international officials have indicated that this situation represents a challenge to European security and a dangerous expansion of the conflict in the region.
