BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Monday that the presence of North Korean troops in Russia poses a threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and signals a dangerous expansion of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Rutte’s remarks, delivered at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, underscore growing concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Rutte emphasized that the deployment of North Korean forces represents a significant escalation and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. He pointed out that this collaboration not only threatens security in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic regions but also undermines peace on the Korean Peninsula. Rutte revealed that North Korea has provided Russia with millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles, which are exacerbating the conflict in Europe and threatening global peace. In exchange, Rutte stated, Russian President Vladimir Putin is supplying North Korea wit
h military technology and support to bypass international sanctions.
Rutte assured that NATO allies remain committed to supporting a “free and democratic Ukraine,” asserting that Ukraine’s security is integral to NATO’s security. He noted that discussions among allies focused on the necessity of increasing military assistance to Ukraine.
In his remarks, Rutte also mentioned his communication with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, expressing gratitude for the intelligence South Korea shared with NATO allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. A South Korean delegation, which included senior officials from national intelligence and the Ministry of National Defense, met with the North Atlantic Council and other Indo-Pacific partners, such as Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, to present intelligence on North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Rutte confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, with reports indicating the presence of North Korean military units in th
e Russian Kursk region. Media reports suggest that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops have been sent to support Russia’s efforts in Ukraine.