Good morning This morning, a delegation from the Republic of Korea, a close NATO partner, briefed the North Atlantic Council and our other Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan and New Zealand – about North Korea's growing involvement in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

The delegation included senior officials from the Republic of Korea National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Defense. The allies also shared their intelligence assessments. Today I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and North Korean military units have been stationed in the Kursk region.

The deployment of North Korean troops represents, first, a significant escalation of the DPRK's ongoing involvement in Russia's illegal war. Second, a further violation of UN Security Council resolutions. And thirdly, a dangerous expansion of the Russian war.

NATO calls on Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately stop these actions.

Deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security. It undermines peace on the Korean Peninsula and fuels Russia's war against Ukraine. Pyongyang has already supplied Russia with millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles, fueling a major conflict in the heart of Europe and undermining global peace and security. In return, (President) Putin provides North Korea with military technology and other support to circumvent international sanctions.

This underscores the importance of democracies sticking together to uphold our values ​​and address our shared security challenges, but the stationing of North Korean troops in Kursk is also a sign of (President) Putin's growing desperation. Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in (President) Putin's war, and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support. Because the Ukrainians are fighting back with courage, resilience and ingenuity.

NATO Allies will continue to support a free and democratic Ukraine, because Ukraine's security is our security. Today we discussed the need to further increase military support to Ukraine. We are actively consulting within the Alliance, with Ukraine and with our Indo-Pacific partners on these developments and continue to monitor the situation closely. I have scheduled talks later today with President Yoon of the Republic of Korea and Defense Minister Umerov of Ukraine.

Thank you very much.