The G7 countries, along with the EU, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand, issued a joint statement on Tuesday voicing “grave concern” over North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia and condemning the increasing military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
In their statement, the foreign ministers of these nations warned that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine could dangerously escalate the conflict, posing risks to peace in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Thousands of North Korean troops are reported to have been sent to Russia, potentially to aid in battlefield efforts against Ukraine, which the ministers labeled as a “further breach” of international law and a violation of UN Charter principles.
The statement strongly denounced the growing military collaboration between North Korea and Russia, specifically North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of ballistic missiles—actions that violate several UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). The ministers also raised concerns about the potential transfer of nuclear or missile-related technology from Russia to North Korea, which would breach these UNSCRs.
The statement urged North Korea to cease its support for Russia’s war efforts and reaffirmed the group’s strong commitment to supporting Ukraine.
South Korea and Ukraine recently reported that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are now stationed in Russia, a development confirmed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who cited their presence in the Kursk region as a worrying expansion of the conflict.
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