NATO needs to take action beyond statements regarding North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast – Lithuanian ambassador

Deividas Matulionis, Lithuania's Permanent Representative to NATO, believes that the Alliance should respond with concrete actions to the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT

Details: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed that North Korean troops are being deployed to assist Moscow on the battlefield in Russia's Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces are currently conducting an operation.

Matulionis said there was no confirmation that North Korean troops had been deployed to Ukrainian territory.

"There is no confirmation yet that they are on Ukrainian territory, but this is indeed a serious new escalation to which we must respond appropriately. And not just with a statement, but with concrete actions," he said.

He confirmed the information that 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops could be deployed in Kursk.

"This is a real army and the troops are currently undergoing additional training. But let’s understand, it will not be that simple – integration, language, management and chain of command. The question is how they will work there. The situation is serious, but the strategic balance will not be fundamentally altered by North Korean forces," the official stressed.

Matulionis emphasised that even the fact of their presence "is very worrying".

When asked about the potential response, Matulionis emphasised the need for increased support for Ukraine.

"We hope that the secretary general’s statement should be followed by a further discussion on concrete steps on how to continue and increase military support to Ukraine, and perhaps even to start talking within NATO about the issue of the removal of geographical restrictions on long-range weapons," he said.

The official also noted the issue of sanctions.

"There is also the issue of sanctions. And, importantly, deeper cooperation with the Pacific countries – Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea – in the field of the defence industry, which we believe is very important," Matulionis added.

Background:

• On 23 October, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea had sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support the occupation forces in the war against Ukraine and is also trying to isolate the families of selected soldiers in a certain place to prevent information from spreading.
• The White House later confirmed reports that there are several thousand North Korean troops in Russia. In this context, Germany and Austria have summoned the North Korean ambassadors.
• US President Joe Biden also reacted to reports suggesting that North Korea was sending troops to Russia and said it was "very, very dangerous".

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