NATO "strongly condemns sending North Korean troops"...South Korea joins statement after 8 years

Indo-Pacific partners, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO and South Korea, strongly condemned the dispatch of North Korean troops.

NATO's top decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, said in a statement that it "strongly condemns the decision of Russian and North Korean leaders to dangerously escalate Russia's war of aggression."

"North Korea has dangerously expanded its support to Russia by sending thousands of combat troops in addition to providing millions of ammunition and ballistic missiles," he said.

"The deepening of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea violates a number of U.N. Security Council resolutions," the North Atlantic Council criticized, adding that "it is worse given that Russia is a permanent member."

NATO allies and partners will continue to expand political and military support, which is essential for Ukraine to exercise its right to self-defense, he said.

It is the first time in about eight years that India and Pacific partners, including South Korea, have joined the NATO statement since December 2016, when they condemned North Korea's nuclear test.