Ukraine-Russia war latest: North Korea troops in Russia shows Putin is desperate to make up for losses, say G7
Significant number of North Korean troops headed to the frontline areas, including Kursk, says Seoul
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Your support makes all the difference.The Group of Seven has branded Russia’s deployment of thousands of North Korean troops into its fight with Ukraine as a “desperate effort” to replenish Moscow’s own losses as Kyiv reports the first combat clashes with Pyongyang’s soldiers.
Kyiv confirmed on Monday that they had fired at North Korean soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk, which has been partly occupied by Ukraine since August.
Foreign ministers from the G7 described the deployment as a “dangerous expansion of the conflict”, with Monday’s clashes marking the first time a sovereign nation has officially engaged its forces in the conflict.
“The DPRK’s (North Korea) direct support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia’s desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict,” the ministers said in a statement, which was also signed by South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The ministers said they condemned “in the strongest possible terms” increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including Russia’s “unlawful procurement” of North Korean ballistic missiles.
They added they were deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea.
Medics urged to remove red cross on vehicles at risk of becoming targets
Medics in Ukraine are being urged to remove any markings on their vehicles that may set them apart otherwise they’ll be shot at “within 15 minutes”, the Economist has reported.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation reported that ambulance workers and other personnel servicing health transport face a risk of injury and death three times higher than that of other healthcare service workers.
A secret underground hospital’s chief medical officer told the Economist: “They don’t even know what it means” when asked about Russia following the Geneva conventions, which forbid targeting medical units.
He said: “If you put a red cross on a car, you’ll be fired on within 15 minutes.”
South Korea and EU condemn 'North Korean troops in Russia’
Top South Korean and European Union officials have condemned North Korea’s reported troop dispatch to aid Russia’s war against Ukraine. In a meeting in Seoul on Monday, South Korean defense minister Kim Yong Hyun and the EU’s visiting foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed “serious concerns” about North Korea’s reported troop dispatch and “strongly condemned” it, according to a statement from the South Korean defense ministry. The two agreed to work together with the international community to try to obstruct Russian-North Korean security cooperation, the statement said.
In a background briefing with local media on Monday, South Korea’s military said North Korea has built anti-tank, trench-like structures at two sites near the Korean border. According to US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments, North Korea was estimated to have moved about 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia.
German foreign minister confirms continued support for Ukraine
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in Kyiv and asserted her country’s continued backing for Ukraine, as the future of US aid hangs in the balance with the upcoming election.
Baerbock said Ukraine needs support to ensure its very survival as North Korea’s military involvement and Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure exacerbate the conflict.
She said: “We are countering this brutality with our humanity and support, so that Ukrainians can not only survive the winter, but so that their country can survive. Because they are also defending the freedom of all of us in Europe.”
Germany has emerged as Ukraine‘s top donor of military aid in Europe and has closely coordinated its support with Washington.
Russia downs four HIMARS, 42 Ukrainian drones, says defence ministry
Russia’s defence ministry said its armed forces had downed four US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 42 Ukrainian drones in the last 24 hours on Monday, Reuters has reported.
The ministry said four different troop groupings were improving their positions, including the southern group which it said was making advances deep into Ukrainian defences.
Moldova’s pro-EU president defeats pro-Russia rival
Moldovan president Maia Sandu secured a second term in office in a pivotal presidential runoff election marred by accusations of Russian interference and electoral manipulation.
Her victory, with 55 per cent of the votes, was confirmed by Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission, leaving her opponent, former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, with 45 per cent.
The re-election of the pro-European leader reinforces Moldova’s drive toward closer ties with the European Union.
Namita Singh reports.
Moldova’s pro-EU president Maia Sandu wins election amid Russian meddling claims
Her win comes as Moldova’s EU membership efforts in wake of Ukraine invasion gain momentum
In pics: Russia bombs Ukraine’s capital and Kharkiv
UK becomes president of the UN Security Council
UK is now president of the UN Security Council
The UK has become the president of the UN’s Security Council.
It is a rotating position which the UK will hold until the end of November. It was held by Denmark in October, and will be taken over by the United States in December.
The UK’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, spoke on the role as president.
“Putin will not stop at Ukraine. We can be sure that Iran and North Korea are exacting a heavy price from Russia for their support.
“Where there is death and chaos, President Putin’s hand is rarely far behind.”
UN chief ‘very concerned’ about reports of North Korean soldiers in Russia
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres is “very concerned” about reports of North Korean troops on Russia’s soil and fears the “escalation of the war in Ukraine”, his spokesperson said.
Mr Guterres’s remarks come as American intelligence confirmed thousands of North Korean troops are already on their way to Russia’s Kursk border region where Ukraine’s incursion is underway.
“The Secretary-General is very concerned about reports of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being sent to the Russian Federation, including their possible deployment to the conflict zone,” said Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesperson.
Arpan Rai reports.
UN chief ‘very concerned’ about North Korean troops in Russia
UN chief says North Korean boots in Russia ‘represent a very dangerous escalation’
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