Pyongyang, North Korea

North Korea said Friday (Oct 25) that dispatching troops to Russia to aid its war efforts in Ukraine would not amount to a violation of international law. However, Pyongyang stopped short of confirming that the deployment had taken place.

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North Korea's KCNA news agency quoted the vice foreign minister as saying such a move would “conform” with international laws.

Kim Jong Gyu, North Korea's vice foreign minister, said he was not involved in the matters handled by the country’s defence ministry but added, "If there is such a thing that the world media is talking about, I think it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law."

Also read: Russia ratifies military pact with North Korea amid troops deployment row

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On Thursday (Oct 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to deny whether North Korea had sent troops to his country.

When asked by a reporter about satellite images allegedly showing the movement of North Korean troops, Putin jokingly said, “Images are a serious thing. If there are images, then they reflect something.”

Earlier, the United States had claimed it had evidence that North Korean troops had arrived in Russia to fight in Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Friday that North Korean troops would be deployed to the battlefield as soon as Sunday (Oct 27).

"According to intelligence reports, on October 27-28, the first North Korean military will be used by Russia in combat zones," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

The Ukrainian leader also urged his allies in the West to press Moscow to back-peddle on the deployment of North Korean troops by applying "tangible pressure."

"This is a clear escalation by Russia," Zelensky posted on X after receiving reports from his top commander.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)