NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says the addition of North Korean forces is a “significant escalation”.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, confirmed Monday that North Korean soldiers had been sent to assist Russia in its war with Ukraine. This reflects the “increasing desperation” shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rutte said to reporters that the increased military cooperation between Russia, North Korea and other countries “is a danger” for Indo-Pacific security and Euro-Atlantic.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, told reporters: “I can confirm today that North Korean troops were sent to Russia and that North Korean military forces have been deployed in the Kursk area.”

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Russia is fighting back against an incursion by Ukraine into the Kursk area.

Rutte stated that the addition of North Korean forces to the conflict marks “a significant expansion” and “a dangerous extension” of the “Russian illegal war.”

Rutte stated that “more than 600,000 Russians have been killed or injured in Putin’s War and he cannot sustain his assault against Ukraine without foreign assistance.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday the troop movement in a press release, saying that it would be “a very, serious issue” if North Korean soldiers deployed to Ukraine.

Reuters reported that the Kremlin dismissed reports about North Korea deploying soldiers as “fake” news, while a North Korean United Nations Representative called these reports “groundless rumors.”

Rutte addressed the 32 ambassadors of the NATO alliance in Brussels, after a delegation from South Korea, which included top military and intelligence officials, as well as senior diplomatic figures, had briefed them at NATO headquarters.

Rutte stated that NATO “actively consults within the alliance, Ukraine, and our Indo-Pacific Partners” on developments.

He said, “We will continue to closely monitor the situation.” After the statement, he did not answer any questions.