During a press conference in Brussels on October 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made serious allegations against North Korea, claiming that the country has dispatched military officers to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine and is preparing to send thousands of troops to assist in the conflict. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, however, stated that there is currently no evidence of North Korean soldiers participating in combat.

Zelenskyy highlighted these concerns during the press briefing, saying, “We have intelligence indicating that some North Korean military officers are already on Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russian enemies. So they have joined the Russian forces.” While he could not specify how many North Korean officers were present, he noted that “about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are preparing to be sent to fight against us,” labeling this development as “the first step of a World War.”

Western allies of Ukraine have yet to confirm Zelenskyy’s claims regarding the deployment of North Korean troops but indicated that investigations are underway.

In the joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Secretary General Rutte remarked, “We do not have evidence of North Korean soldiers being engaged in combat.” He added, “However, we do know that North Korea supports Russia in numerous ways, including supplying weapons, technology, and innovations to aid their military efforts, which is extremely concerning.”

Additionally, on October 15, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Sean Savett, stated that if the reports of North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine are true, it would signify a significant strengthening of the defense relationship between North Korea and Russia.