**North Korean Troops Enter Russia's Kursk Region: NATO Chief Confirms**

BRUSSELS – NATO chief Mark Rutte announced on Monday that North Korean soldiers have been deployed to the Kursk region of Russia, an area where Ukrainian forces recently captured territory in a surprise summer offensive. This marks a significant escalation in North Korea's involvement in the ongoing conflict, risking direct combat with Ukrainian forces and potentially aiding Russia in reclaiming the contested region.

Last week, U.S. officials, citing newly declassified intelligence, revealed that approximately 3,000 North Korean personnel were undergoing combat training in Russia. However, it remained uncertain whether these troops would be utilized in the conflict. This intel was corroborated by statements from both Kyiv and Seoul.

Rutte's confirmation came after a meeting at NATO headquarters that included South Korean intelligence and military officials, as well as representatives from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. The NATO countries shared their intelligence evaluations during the session. Rutte warned that North Korea's increasing involvement represents a dangerous expansion of the conflict and heightens tensions with the West.

The NATO chief noted that North Korea has already supplied Russia with millions of rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles, further fueling the conflict in Europe. In exchange, Russian President Vladimir Putin has provided North Korea with military technology and other forms of support to bypass international sanctions.

Putin seemed to indirectly confirm the presence of North Korean troops last week, referencing a mutual defense article within the new Russia-North Korea security treaty. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later described the Western condemnations of the cooperation as efforts to justify their own military support for Ukraine. Lavrov stressed that the treaty stipulates mutual assistance in case of a military attack on either country.

Ukrainian officials have accused North Korea of preparing to send up to 10,000 troops to assist Russia, with some advisors allegedly already on the front lines. According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, around 1,500 North Korean special operations troops are currently training in Russia, with an additional 1,500 troops having entered the country.

A former Kremlin official, on condition of anonymity, suggested that the deployment of North Korean forces to Kursk is seen by Moscow as retaliation after Kyiv's recent incursions in the region and following Western authorizations for limited strikes inside Russia. The official added that deploying North Korean troops is both cost-effective and politically simpler for the Kremlin.

For Kyiv, the arrival of North Korean troops presents a new complication on an already strained battlefield. Ukrainian forces have recently suffered setbacks, ceding significant territory retaken during the summer offensive. Analysts warn that the North Korean reinforcements could enable Russian units to refocus on the eastern Ukrainian front, where Ukrainian defenses are under significant pressure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has used Pyongyang's support for Russia to call for more decisive action from Western allies, including permission to use longer-range U.S.-provided missiles to strike deeper into Russia and a formal NATO invitation for Ukraine. So far, Washington has rebuffed these requests. "Ukraine will be forced to actually fight against North Korea in Europe," Zelensky said in a weekend address, urging allies to make "stronger decisions."