NATO chief "North Korea confirms deployment of Rukursk"...Russian Foreign Minister "Western mercenaries in Ukraine"

[Anchor]
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO head officially confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops in Kursk, Russia.

NATO has called for an immediate end to the deployment of North Korean troops, accusing it of a dangerous escalation.

In response, Russia countered that Western mercenaries were already active in Ukraine.

Reporter Kim Jandi's report.

[Reporter]
North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

After the South Korean delegation's briefing on the North Korean troop dispatch trend, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutter officially confirmed the North's dispatch of troops to Russia and the deployment of Kursk.

[Marc Rutter / Secretary-General of NATO: We can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean troops have been deployed to the (Russian) Kursk region.]

North Korea's dispatch of troops criticizes 'significant' escalation of tension in war,

Another violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a dangerous escalation of the Russian war.

NATO called for an immediate end to the deployment of North Korean troops and accused the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia of undermining world peace and security.

[Marc Rutter/ NATO Secretary-General: In return, Putin is providing North Korea with military technology and other support to circumvent international sanctions]

It said it was important for democracies that shared the same values to join forces and respond to common security threats, and discussed the need to further strengthen military support for Ukraine.

Since the start of the war, the Russian military has suffered 600,000 casualties, stressing that the dispatch of North Korean troops shows Russia's desperation.

Regarding North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by saying, "Ukraine already has Western mercenaries."

Western forces have long been active in Ukraine and have accused NATO and the European Union of waging a hybrid war against Russia.

He also refuted that the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" signed with North Korea, saying the relationship between North Korea and Russia is honest and open, does not violate any provisions of international law.

I'm Kim Jandi from YTN.

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video: Han Soo-min