NEW YORK — North Korea has denied allegations that it has deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, calling the claims “groundless rumors” aimed at damaging its relations with Russia. A North Korean representative at the United Nations dismissed the accusations made by South Korea’s spy agency, which had reported that Pyongyang sent 1,500 special forces to train in Russia’s Far East and prepare for deployment to Ukraine.
Speaking at a committee meeting during the UN General Assembly on October 21, the North Korean representative said, “As for the so-called military cooperation with Russia, my delegation does not feel any need for comment on such groundless stereotyped rumors.” The representative further accused Seoul of trying to undermine the friendly relationship between North Korea and Russia.
North Korea and Russia have maintained strong ties since North Korea’s founding after World War II, and their relationship has deepened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the growing alliance, neither North Korean state media nor Russian officials have confirmed the alleged troop deployment.
In response to the claims, the United States and its allies, including NATO, have expressed concerns about the potential deployment of North Korean forces to Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood warned that if the reports are true, the deployment would signify a dangerous escalation in the conflict and a deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow.
South Korea has strongly condemned North Korea’s alleged involvement in the Ukraine war, with the country’s National Security Council calling for the immediate withdrawal of any North Korean forces from Russian territory. “North Korea’s sending troops to Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine is a significant security threat not only to our country but also to the international community,” the council said in a statement.
The South Korean government has also signaled that it may take phased countermeasures if military cooperation between North Korea and Russia continues. Additionally, Seoul is reportedly considering sending military intelligence personnel to Ukraine to monitor any North Korean troop presence and analyze battlefield strategies, according to a government source cited by Yonhap news agency.
As tensions rise, a pro-Russian Telegram account has posted a photo showing Russian and North Korean flags side by side on a Ukrainian battlefield, adding to the speculation surrounding North Korea’s potential involvement in the ongoing conflict.