**NATO Condemns Growing Military Cooperation Between Russia and North Korea**

NATO has reiterated its commitment to global security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, while strongly condemning the escalating military partnership between Russia and North Korea. In a statement released Friday, NATO criticized North Korea for deploying combat troops to aid Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, labeling this move a dangerous escalation.

The statement highlighted that North Korea has been providing ballistic missiles and millions of rounds of ammunition to Russia. "The thousands of combat troops deployed by the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] constitutes a dangerous expansion of its ongoing support for Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," the statement reads. This collaboration between Russia and North Korea has significant implications for both Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security, NATO added.

NATO's statement also emphasized that these actions are in direct violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 2270 (2016), 1718 (2006), and 1874 (2009). Given Russia's status as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, NATO called on Moscow to comply with these resolutions and uphold its international obligations.

The alliance also denounced Russia's recent declaration that the denuclearization of North Korea is "off the table," terming it unacceptable. According to NATO, this stance undermines the global non-proliferation regime and exacerbates regional tensions. "The Russian statement forms part of its wider effort to undermine the global non-proliferation regime and to dismantle UN sanctions," NATO said.

Reaffirming its unwavering support for Ukraine, NATO stated, "Allies remain as resolute as ever in supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to prevail." The statement noted that allies and partners are ramping up vital political, military, financial, economic, and humanitarian assistance as Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defense, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. NATO allies are determined to help Ukraine build a capable force to defeat Russian aggression, in line with the pledge of long-term security assistance for the country.

The statement concluded with a note of solidarity, mentioning that Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Ukraine have aligned themselves with NATO's position.