North Korea announced on Friday its stance that sending troops to aid Russia in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine complies with international law. This announcement was made through a statement from North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong Gyu, published by the nation’s state news agency. Notably, while North Korea asserts the legality of such cooperation, it has refrained from confirming any actual deployments. More on this development can be found in the statement released by North Korea.
This statement arises amid claims from Ukraine and its allies, including the United States and South Korea, suggesting that North Korea has already dispatched thousands of troops to Russia. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) recently reported sightings of North Korean ground forces in the Russian city of Kursk, a location of recent military activity. Their assessment includes approximately 500 North Korean officers, among them several army generals. However, there has been no official confirmation of North Korean troop presence in Ukrainian territory.
According to North Korea, actions are taken “in accordance with the regulations of international law.” This is referenced against the backdrop of a newly ratified mutual defense pact between Russia and North Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a BRICS press conference, avoided directly addressing the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia, focusing instead on blaming Western countries for exacerbating the conflict in Ukraine. Putin emphasized that specifics of the defense agreement between Russia and North Korea are sovereign decisions exclusive to Moscow and Pyongyang. The pact was officially ratified by the Russian parliament this past Thursday, with President Putin expressing strong confidence in North Korea’s commitment to the terms of the agreement. Read more on Putin’s remarks at the Kremlin’s official site.
However, the European Union has stated that such military deployments by North Korea would be unlawful, arguing they would constitute participation in an illegal war of aggression. Furthermore, the EU criticized Russia for breaching United Nations resolutions that restrict military cooperation with North Korea. The comprehensive statement by the EU’s High Representative can be accessed here.
As global attention remains focused on the evolving military and diplomatic landscapes, the potential implications of these developments continue to spark significant international discourse. For the full context of these statements, refer to the original report by Jurist here.