The U.S. government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have adopted a cautious stance, stating that they are investigating allegations regarding North Korea’s potential deployment of troops to the war in Ukraine.
According to U.S. media outlets such as Fox News, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated during a regular briefing on Thursday, “Definitely seen the reporting on the comments about potential DPRK forces going to Russia or going to Ukraine. I can tell you right now we’re looking into those,” adding, “We can’t confirm or corroborate those reports.” Ryder explained, “If true, that would demonstrate increased cooperation between Russia and North Korea.”
He also pointed out, “And I think that would also demonstrate the situation that Russia finds itself in, the dire situation that it finds itself in, in terms of its forces on the battlefield,” stressing, “As you’ve heard us recently say, the casualties that Russia is experiencing on the front lines are extremely significant, upwards of 600,000 killed or wounded,” stating, “And so it just demonstrates the desperation in terms of identifying additional forces for their military.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been resisting Russia’s invasion for over two years, claimed between October 13 and 16 that North Korea was sending troops to the Ukrainian front. Russia, which signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with North Korea in June, is already known to have been receiving various weapons, including missiles and ammunition, from North Korea for deployment on the Ukrainian front since last year.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy held a press conference after attending a European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, Belgium, and asserted, “From our intelligence, we’ve got information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against Ukraine” He further stated during a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels on the same day, “They are preparing on their land 10,000 soldiers, but they didn’t move them already to Ukraine or Russia.”
While Zelenskyy could not confirm the exact number, he asserted, “North Korea sent tactical personnel and officers to Ukraine.” He emphasized that he would raise concerns about North Korea’s involvement once the information was verified.
During the joint press conference with Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that North Korea, along with China, Iran, and Russia, is supporting Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. However, he noted, “We have no evidence that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fight. But we do know that North Korea is supporting Russia in many ways, weapons supplies, technological supplies, innovation, to support them in the war effort.” The South Korean government is also reportedly investigating the allegations of North Korea’s involvement.
