NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in Kursk

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed on Monday that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region to support Moscow’s military operations, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

North Korean troops deployed to Kursk

Rutte announced that North Korean military units had been sent to the Kursk region, an area partly controlled by Ukrainian forces. “I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, and that military units have been deployed to the Kursk region,” Rutte told reporters following a meeting with a senior official from South Korea’s intelligence service.

The move, confirmed by earlier intelligence reports from Ukraine, signifies that North Korean troops are now involved or poised for combat alongside Russian forces, a development that has alarmed Western allies.

Rutte calls deployment a ‘dangerous expansion’ of conflict

Describing the deployment as a “dangerous expansion” of the conflict, Rutte underscored the risks posed by North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s military campaign. “This is a significant escalation in the DPRK’s ongoing involvement in Russia’s illegal war,” he said, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Rutte emphasized that the situation in Kursk is a direct consequence of Moscow’s growing reliance on foreign support, labeling it “a sign of Putin’s growing desperation.”

Russia’s growing reliance on foreign allies

The deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk follows months of escalating tensions and military losses for Russia. Rutte pointed to the severe toll the war has taken on Russian forces, noting that over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the conflict began. “Putin is unable to sustain his assault in Ukraine without foreign support,” he said.

Ukraine has captured parts of the Kursk region, a strategic victory that Kyiv hopes will force Russia to redeploy its troops from eastern Ukraine. The presence of North Korean soldiers in this region underscores Russia’s increasingly strained resources as the war continues.

NATO urges immediate ceasefire

Rutte also urged both Russia and North Korea to cease their actions immediately. “NATO calls on Russia and the DPRK to halt these dangerous escalations,” he said.

Rutte is expected to discuss the situation further with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.