S.Korea accuses Pyongyang of sending troops to Russia, Kremlin denies

SEOUL – The South Korean National Intelligence Service reported a statement on Saturday, accusing North Korea of shipping 1,500 special forces troops towards Russia.

“The direct military cooperation between Russia and North Korea that has been reported by foreign media has now been officially confirmed,” said the spy agency.

Conversely, the Kremlin dismissed the South Korean claims that North Korea has sent military personnel to help Russia against Ukraine.

In a joint press conference in Kyiv on Saturday, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, and his French counterpart raised concerns of growing escalation risk following Seoul’s intelligence report.

Accordingly, France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris was open to immediately inviting Ukraine to join NATO, but talks would continue on the subject with allies.

“Regarding the invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, we are open to it, and it’s a discussion that we are having with our partners.”