Europe warns of global risk as North Korean troops aid Russia
The European Union has expressed deep concern over reports of North Korea's plans to send soldiers to Russia to support military actions against Ukraine. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that Kim Jong Un's first troops are expected to arrive at the front as early as Sunday or Monday.
During a press briefing in Brussels on Friday, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali emphasised that sending thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia contradicts the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. She noted that the European Commission is deeply concerned about the growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia and is closely monitoring the situation's development.
We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea, she stated.
Massrali also referred to statements by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said that if the reports about sending soldiers are accurate, it would be a "unilateral hostile act by the DPRK with serious consequences for European and global peace and security." Borrell emphasised that such actions further destabilised the world situation and indicated Russia's lack of interest in resolving the conflict peacefully.
North Korea sends soldiers. Russia "seeks escalation"
The EU foreign policy chief pointed out that the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea sends a clear signal about Moscow's actual intentions. On the contrary – it seeks escalation and desperately searches for any assistance for its war, including from dangerous regimes like North Korea, said Borrell.
He also reminded that Russia has changed its stance on denuclearising the Korean Peninsula, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently confirmed. In doing so, Moscow violated essential obligations from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and United Nations Security Council resolutions, of which it is a permanent member. He emphasised that Russia jeopardises its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and a UN member state.
Massrali reported on Friday that the European Union has called on North Korea to cease supporting Russia's illegal military activities and is engaged in discussions with international partners on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on platform X on Friday that, according to Ukrainian intelligence reports, the first North Korean soldiers will appear on the front line in Ukraine as early as Sunday or Monday.
