G7 and Allies to Prepare Coordinated Response as North Korea Deploys Troops to Aid Russia

The G7 nations, along with three other countries, expressed their concern about the deployment of North Korean soldiers to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine and are preparing a coordinated response.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We are working with our international partners for a coordinated response to this new development,” wrote the Japanese Foreign Ministry in a statement released on November 5.

The statement was signed by the members of the G7 (the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, the European Union, and Canada), as well as South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

“We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union express our grave concerns regarding the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, potentially for the use on the battlefield against Ukraine,”

It is also emphasized that North Korea's direct support for the war against Ukraine "would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security. Additionally, it would constitute a new violation of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed on November 5 that Ukrainian forces have engaged in combat with North Korean troops for the first time following Pyongyang’s deployment of forces to assist Russia.