US Secretary of State: "Firm Response to North Korea's Deployment in Ukraine War" (Comprehensive)

Revealed at the North Atlantic Council Meeting

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken warned on the 13th (local time) that the U.S. will respond firmly to North Korea's deployment of troops to the Ukraine war.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Before attending the North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on the morning of the same day, Secretary Blinken said, "North Korean troops have been deployed to combat and are currently quite literally engaged in fighting," adding, "This requires a firm response, and we will do so."

Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated the day before, "It has been confirmed that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been dispatched to eastern Russia, with most of them moving to Kursk Oblast and beginning to engage in combat operations alongside Russian forces."

Deputy Spokesperson Patel also explained, "The Russian military has trained North Korean soldiers in basic infantry operations, including trench clearing (removal of enemy soldiers and other hazards within trenches), as well as the operation of drones and artillery."

Secretary Blinken emphasized, "We are increasingly recognizing that the security of the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East cannot be separated," adding, "It is time to cooperate more closely than ever."

With less than two months remaining until the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the current U.S. administration is actively working to ensure NATO alliance cohesion and support for Ukraine are not affected by the incoming government. There is also momentum to expedite the delivery of already secured security assistance to Ukraine. President-elect Trump is skeptical about support for Ukraine and advocates for a swift ceasefire.

Secretary Blinken stated he is committed to supporting Ukraine until President Biden completes his term, saying, "We will continue to strengthen everything we are currently doing." Regarding NATO defense spending, he noted, "Currently, 23 out of the 32 NATO allies have defense expenditures exceeding 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a good development," adding, "However, we want to ensure that the spending is directed where it is most needed."