NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that he is not yet in a position to confirm reports of North Korean troops being sent to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine.

“So at this moment, I cannot confirm it. Other than that we will get the latest update from South Korea earlier next week,” Rutte said a press conference.

He specified that Seoul would send experts who would hold briefings on this topic for the North Atlantic Council early next week. Rutte added that only then would it become clear whether the DPRK was really helping Russia in its aggression against Ukraine.

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service of South Korea reported that the DPRK was sending troops to Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine.