North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to train in Russia, raising concerns of a dangerous expansion of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.
While Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Kim is widely believed to be helping arm Russia for , troops on the ground mark a new escalation in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned North Korea could "soon" have as many as 12,000 soldiers on Russian soil.
It's the first time North Korea has sent this many troops overseas.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says North Korean troops training in Russia is a "dangerous expansion". Source: Getty / Simon Wohlfhart
Why are North Korean troops entering Russia and when did they enter?
Last week, footage emerged of what appeared to be thousands of North Korean troops training in eastern Russia.
Now, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte after weeks of intelligence reports, calling it "a dangerous expansion of Russia's war" and "a sign of Putin’s growing desperation".
Other media reports have suggested that North Korean military units had been deployed in , where Ukrainian troops have a foothold.
Experts have said, in return for the troops, North Korea is likely aiming to acquire military technology, including surveillance satellites, submarines, and possible security guarantees from Moscow.
Ukrainian soldiers providing aid to a resident in Sudzha, in Russia's Kursk region, in September. Ukraine's forces currently have a foothold in the region. Source: Getty / Global Images Ukraine
Why is this important?
It's the first time in North Korean history this many ground troops have been sent overseas, prompting concerns of both an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and beyond.
Former South Korean army lieutenant general and distinguished military fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Chun In-Bum, said the unprecedented development has the potential to disrupt security dynamics both in Europe and Asia.
"This is the first time in North Korean history that they're sending thousands of ground troops into an area," he said.
"This military assistance could include direct combat. The real significance lies in what they will be getting from this relationship and what they will do with whatever they get."
"This is an escalation on the battlefield. This will help the Russians and their efforts to invade and conquer Ukraine."
But the invasion won't just impact the Russia-Ukraine war.
What do growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula mean for Australia?
After decades of growing distance, North Korea's alliance with Russia appears to have entered into a new and potentially dangerous phase.
There are concerns that the move will affect already deteriorating relations between North and South Korea and the wider Indo-Pacific region, including Japan and Australia.
In January, Kim abandoned a longtime official goal of reunification and called the South an enemy state.
South Korea recently bolstered its 'three-axis defence system', designed to deter the persistent threat posed by North Korea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) signed a mutual defence pact earlier this year. Source: Getty / Contributor/Getty Images
Chun says the "blooming" new relationship between North Korea and Russia is a "new challenge, not only for South Korea, but the entire world."
What has the reaction been around the world?
Several world leaders have commented on the presence of North Korean troops in Russia.
NATO has expressed concerns about the growing threat this poses, saying: "The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also warned of the development, saying it represented "a significant escalation of the war against Ukraine and threatens global peace".
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said the "illegal military cooperation" between Russia and North Korea was a "significant security threat to the international community", adding that it fundamentally "shakes" international order.
Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak has called for greater assistance from allies: "This is an escalation. Sanctions alone are not enough. We need weapons and a clear plan to prevent North Korea's expanded involvement in the war in Europe," Yermak said on X.
And Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, hinted at the impact on Australia.
"North Korean troops in Russia represent a dangerous expansion of Russia's illegal war on Ukraine, with grave implications for the Indo-Pacific's stability," she wrote on X, adding that she has discussed the breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions with NATO delegates.
Over in the United States, President Joe Biden said the deployment was "very dangerous".
