North Korea Confirms Troop Support for Russia in Ukraine War

Russia and North Korea have officially acknowledged for the first time that North Korean troops are participating alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, particularly in the Kursk region. Both countries framed the deployment as an act of solidarity and alliance, with North Korean state media emphasizing that the involvement was in accordance with a bilateral defense treaty and limited to Russian territory. The move marks a significant escalation in military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which analysts and governments say could shift regional dynamics. The United States and South Korea have strongly condemned this admission, calling it a violation of U.N. resolutions and international law, and warning it undermines peace and stability in the region and beyond. South Korean officials further described North Korea's justification as an attempt to mislead the international community and labeled the action as criminal. While North Korea claims its military operations were confined to Russian soil, there are growing concerns about broader implications for the conflict and international security.