EU warns of heightened tensions as North Korea aids Russia
The European Union has expressed deep concern over reports about North Korea's plans to send soldiers to Russia to support military actions against Ukraine. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that Kim Jong Un's first troops will arrive at the front as early as Sunday or Monday.
During a press briefing in Brussels on Friday, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali emphasized that sending thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia is contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. She noted that the European Commission is deeply concerned about the growing engagement between North Korea and Russia and is closely monitoring the situation's development.
We see increasing engagement between North Korea and Russia, and we find it very concerning, she stated.
Massrali also referred to statements by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said that if the reports about sending soldiers are true, it would be a "unilateral hostile act by North Korea, with serious consequences for European and global peace and security." Borrell emphasized that such actions further destabilize the global situation and indicate Russia's lack of interest in resolving the conflict peacefully.
North Korea sends soldiers. Russia "seeks escalation"
The EU foreign policy chief pointed out that the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea sends a clear signal about Moscow's actual intentions. On the contrary, it seeks escalation and desperately searches for any assistance for its war, including from dangerous regimes like North Korea, said Borrell.
He also reminded that Russia has changed its stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which was recently confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In doing so, Moscow violated key obligations from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and United Nations Security Council resolutions, of which it is a permanent member. Russia jeopardizes its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and a UN member state, he emphasized.
Massrali reported on Friday that the European Union has called on North Korea to cease supporting Russia's illegal military activities and is engaged in discussions with international partners on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on platform X on Friday that, according to Ukrainian intelligence reports, the first North Korean soldiers will appear on the front line in Ukraine as early as Sunday or Monday.
