The West is developing a response to the involvement of DPRK troops in the war against Ukraine - joint statement.

Foreign ministers of 10 countries and the EU condemned the deployment of North Korean troops to the war against Ukraine

Foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA, and the EU High Representative expressed deep concern regarding the dispatch of DPRK troops to the war against Ukraine, reports Voice of America.

The direct support of DPRK for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, besides highlighting Russia's desperate efforts to compensate for its losses, would represent a dangerous escalation of the conflict with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security. It would further violate international law, including the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

The ministers emphasized cooperation with international partners for a coordinated response to this.

Diplomats condemned the strengthening of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly the export from DPRK and "Russia's illegal procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles," the use of these missiles and ammunition by Russia against Ukraine.

Foreign ministers do not rule out the possibility of Russia transferring nuclear or ballistic technology to North Korea, which violates UN Security Council resolutions.

According to the Pentagon, there are at least 10,000 North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region, and a total of up to 12,000 military personnel in Russia.