Russian President Vladimir Putin has commented on recent reports of North Korean troops being present in Russia, but did not clarify their purpose.
His remarks came during a press conference following the BRICS summit in Kazan, where Putin responded to a question from a NBC journalist about the satellite images showing North Korean soldiers in Russia.
The American journalist asked, “What are they doing here? And isn't this a serious escalation of the conflict?” The question referred to growing concerns about North Korean involvement in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that it was not Russia's actions that led to the escalation in Ukraine, but the 2014 government coup, supported primarily by the United States,” Putin responded without directly denying the presence of these troops.
Putin also mentioned that the State Duma, Russia’s parliament, had just ratified a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with North Korea, signed by Putin during a visit to Pyongyang earlier this year.
"There is Article 4,” Putin said. “We have never doubted in the least that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. But what we do within the framework of this article is our business.”
Russia's relationship with North Korea has increasingly become close, especially after Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June. During this trip, the two countries signed a defense pact, marking the strongest military agreement between them since the Cold War. This pact includes a clause resembling NATO’s Article V, requiring mutual assistance in the event of aggression against either nation.
This growing alliance has raised alarm in the West. With Russia facing international sanctions and isolation due to its invasion of Ukraine, it has turned to North Korea and other allies for support.
Reports from South Korea, Ukraine, and the United States have suggested that North Korea sent thousands of soldiers to Russia. South Korean intelligence claims that as many as 12,000 North Korean troops may be involved, some of whom have already arrived at Russian bases in the Far East.
According to these reports, Moscow may be planning to deploy North Korean forces to support its efforts in Ukraine. South Korean authorities believe that North Korean soldiers could join Russian combat operations against Ukrainian forces.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin commented on the matter on Wednesday, saying that while it’s still unclear what tasks North Korean soldiers are performing, their presence in Russia is “something left to be seen.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called North Korea’s possible involvement in the Ukraine war a “significant escalation.” If confirmed, this would be the first time North Korea has sent troops to support another nation in an active conflict since the Korean War.
Ukraine has urged its allies to impose new sanctions on North Korea, arguing that Pyongyang’s increasing support for Moscow effectively makes it a participant in the war.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Kyiv remains determined to reclaim all occupied areas, insisting that peace can only be achieved if Russia withdraws its forces and Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.