China claims it lacks information on North Korean troop deployment to Russia while the European Union expresses strong condemnation of the reported military cooperation in October 2024.
During a regular press conference on 24 October, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that “China does not have information” regarding North Korean troops in Russia. Lin reiterated China’s position on Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion that Beijing calls the “Ukraine crisis,” saying,
“We hope all parties will promote the deescalation of the situation and strive for a political settlement.”
The European Union issued a stern response the same day, expressing deep alarm over the reports on Pyongyang sending troops to participate in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine:
“This would constitute a serious breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter,” the EU High Representative stated in the Council’s press release. The statement emphasized that this represents “a unilateral hostile act by the DPRK with serious consequences for European and global peace and security.”
The EU strongly condemned the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, stating it “flagrantly violate[s] multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.” The Council’s statement particularly highlighted concerns about Russia’s position shift on North Korean denuclearization, noting that “Russia relinquishes its key obligations from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).”
- On 23 October, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and White House advisor John Kirby confirmed the information about North Korean troops being sent to Russia.
- Amid reports of North Korean troops joining military operations, Seoul no longer rules out the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine.
- On 24 October, 2,000 North Korean soldiers had moved to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, near the Ukrainian border, Kyodo reported, citing a Ukrainian military source.
- South Korea’s confirmed that by 23 October, North Korea had deployed over 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to increase the number to around 10,000 by December.
Related:
- Kyodo: 2,000 North Korean soldiers move to Russia’s Kursk Oblast near Ukraine, Ukrainian military source says
- North Korea isolates families of soldiers sent to Russia, conceals deployment domestically
- Russia repurposes nuclear forces personnel as infantry amid manpower shortages
- White House confirms North Korea sent 3,000 troops to Russia for military training
- South Korea’s response to North Korean troops in Russia may include arms transfers
