NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed concern on Monday over reports that North Korean troops may be joining Russian forces in Ukraine, warning that such a move would represent a “significant escalation” in the conflict. Rutte’s comments, shared on X, came after discussions with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol about NATO’s cooperation with Seoul and the broader security ties between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
South Korea recently claimed that North Korea sent 1,500 soldiers to Russia between October 8-13 to support Moscow in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Further reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service suggest Pyongyang plans to send an additional 10,000 troops to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these concerns, stating that Russia is preparing to deploy the North Korean soldiers in its fight against Kyiv. If confirmed, the deployment would mark a troubling escalation of foreign involvement in the war.–News Desk