Mandatory credit : KCNA
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s vice foreign minister released a statement on Friday saying that any deployment of troops into Russia 'would conform' with international law.
"I heeded the rumour of the dispatch of KPA troops to Russia, which the world media is building up public opinion. The DPRK Foreign Ministry does not directly engage in the things of the Ministry of National Defence, and does not feel the need to confirm it separately," said Kim Jong Gyu, vice foreign minister of the DPRK in charge of Russian affairs.
"If there is such a thing that the world media is talking about, I think it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law," Kim continued. "There will evidently exist forces which want to describe it as illegal one, I think."
Footage shows an image from the latest DPRK Standing Committee.The statement itself did not explicitly confirm the presence of troops in the country.
During the final BRICS Summit press briefing on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked about 'satellite images' which one reporter claimed were "said to show the DPRK troops here in Russia".
"Photos are a serious matter," Putin replied. "If there are images, they reflect something."
On Thursday, Russia's State Duma also ratified the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the DPRK.
Moscow had not commented on the DPRK statement at time of publication. On Wednesday, Biden administration spokesperson John Kirby claimed the US had 'intelligence' suggesting there were 'at least' 3,000 DPRK soldiers in Russia, but didn't provide any evidence - and Kirby admitted that 'we do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat'.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s vice foreign minister released a statement on Friday saying that any deployment of troops into Russia 'would conform' with international law.
"I heeded the rumour of the dispatch of KPA troops to Russia, which the world media is building up public opinion. The DPRK Foreign Ministry does not directly engage in the things of the Ministry of National Defence, and does not feel the need to confirm it separately," said Kim Jong Gyu, vice foreign minister of the DPRK in charge of Russian affairs.
"If there is such a thing that the world media is talking about, I think it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law," Kim continued. "There will evidently exist forces which want to describe it as illegal one, I think."
Footage shows an image from the latest DPRK Standing Committee.The statement itself did not explicitly confirm the presence of troops in the country.
During the final BRICS Summit press briefing on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked about 'satellite images' which one reporter claimed were "said to show the DPRK troops here in Russia".
"Photos are a serious matter," Putin replied. "If there are images, they reflect something."
On Thursday, Russia's State Duma also ratified the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the DPRK.
Moscow had not commented on the DPRK statement at time of publication. On Wednesday, Biden administration spokesperson John Kirby claimed the US had 'intelligence' suggesting there were 'at least' 3,000 DPRK soldiers in Russia, but didn't provide any evidence - and Kirby admitted that 'we do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat'.
Mandatory credit : KCNA
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s vice foreign minister released a statement on Friday saying that any deployment of troops into Russia 'would conform' with international law.
"I heeded the rumour of the dispatch of KPA troops to Russia, which the world media is building up public opinion. The DPRK Foreign Ministry does not directly engage in the things of the Ministry of National Defence, and does not feel the need to confirm it separately," said Kim Jong Gyu, vice foreign minister of the DPRK in charge of Russian affairs.
"If there is such a thing that the world media is talking about, I think it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law," Kim continued. "There will evidently exist forces which want to describe it as illegal one, I think."
Footage shows an image from the latest DPRK Standing Committee.The statement itself did not explicitly confirm the presence of troops in the country.
During the final BRICS Summit press briefing on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked about 'satellite images' which one reporter claimed were "said to show the DPRK troops here in Russia".
"Photos are a serious matter," Putin replied. "If there are images, they reflect something."
On Thursday, Russia's State Duma also ratified the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the DPRK.
Moscow had not commented on the DPRK statement at time of publication. On Wednesday, Biden administration spokesperson John Kirby claimed the US had 'intelligence' suggesting there were 'at least' 3,000 DPRK soldiers in Russia, but didn't provide any evidence - and Kirby admitted that 'we do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat'.