Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to reports that North Korean soldiers have been deployed in Russia, emphasized that decisions regarding the use of military alliances with Pyongyang are Moscow’s “own business.”
Neither Confirming Nor Denying
His comments come amid claims from the United States and South Korea that North Korea recently sent troops to Russia, potentially to support the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking at a press event during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Putin addressed recent satellite images showing possible movements of North Korean soldiers, according to L'Independent.
“The images are serious. If there are images, they show something,” he stated, without confirming or denying the troops’ arrival.
U.S. sources claim that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers may be in Russia, with speculation that they could join operations in Ukraine.
If verified, this deployment would represent a new international dimension in the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Accuses the West of Escalation
Putin also took the opportunity to accuse the West of fueling the war in Ukraine. He alleged that NATO officers and instructors are actively involved in operations against Russian forces, claiming that “we know who is present, from which NATO countries, and how they conduct their missions.”
For months, Russia has claimed that Western military support for Ukraine constitutes direct involvement in the conflict, a charge repeatedly denied by Western leaders who insist that their aid is strictly defensive.
The president referred to the recently signed defense pact with North Korea, which includes mutual defense commitments, stating: “What we do within this framework is our business.”
While Putin refrained from elaborating on specific plans, his comments imply that Moscow feels justified in coordinating with Pyongyang as it faces increased Western support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Putin claimed that Russian forces are progressing on all fronts in Ukraine and have encircled a significant number of Ukrainian troops near Russia’s Kursk region.
This is the area where, according to Moscow, Kyiv conducted a cross-border incursion in early August, briefly capturing parts of Russian territory.
