NATO: North Korea sending troops to Ukraine would mark significant escalation

He shared this on X after discussing the situation with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. They talked about NATO's partnership with Seoul, defense cooperation, and security in both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
 

“North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine would mark a significant escalation,” he wrote.

North Korean troops in Ukraine war

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that a missile strike on the occupied territory of Donetsk region had killed 20 soldiers. Among them, in particular, were six soldiers from the DPRK who were consulting with the Russian army.

On October 8, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun warned that North Korea could send its troops to Ukraine to support Russia.

On October 13, it was reported that Russia continues to build allied relations with North Korea. In fact, it is about the transfer of North Korean troops to the ranks of the Russian army.

At a press conference in Brussels on October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian forces plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers and involve them in the war in Ukraine.

On October 18, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that there are about 11,000 North Korean infantrymen in eastern Russia who are being trained to take part in hostilities in Ukraine.