NATO Secretary General confirms presence of North Korean military in Kursk Oblast

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that with the latest available information, he can confirm that North Korean military personnel are already involved in Kursk Oblast of Russia.

Rutte stated that in the morning, a delegation from South Korea informed NATO, as well as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, about their awareness of the presence of North Korean military personnel in Russia and their involvement in the war. 

"Today, I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, and North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region. The deployment of North Korean troops represents one – a significant escalation in the DPRK case ongoing involvement in Russia's illegal war. Two – yet another breach of a UN Security Council resolutions. And three – a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war," Rutte said during a briefing. 

"NATO calls on Russia and the DPRK to cease these actions immediately. The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," the Secretary General added. 

He reminded that prior to this, North Korea had provided Russia with ammunition and ballistic missiles. "In exchange, Putin is providing North Korea with military technologies and other support to circumvent international sanctions," Rutte noted. 

He emphasised that, under these circumstances, it is essential for the democratic world to unite in defending shared values. 

"But the deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk is also a sign of Putin's growing desperation. Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin's war, and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support. … NATO allies will continue to support a free and democratic because Ukraine's security is our security," Mark Rutte stated. 

Rutte added that he would speak later on Monday with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov in light of these developments.

On 23 October, South Korean intelligence reported that Pyongyang had sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support Russian forces in their war against Ukraine and was also trying to isolate the families of selected soldiers in a certain place to prevent information from spreading.

The White House later confirmed reports that there are several thousand North Korean troops in Russia.

In this context, Germany and Austria have summoned the North Korean ambassadors.