Recent reports on the presence of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s troops on Russian soil in support of Russia's illegal war have been confirmed to me by the European Intelligence Centre (INTCEN).

The DPRK has been providing weapons and ammunition to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. The presence of several thousand troops cooperating with the Russian military represents a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

It is a unilateral hostile act by the DPRK with serious consequences for European and global peace and security.

The DPRK must stop providing support to Russia’s war efforts. Continued military support from the DPRK to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will be met with an appropriate response.

The European Union is coordinating with international partners on the matter, including on responses.

I will be travelling to Japan and Republic of Korea this week where I will be meeting with my counterparts Foreign Ministers Takeshi Iwaya and Cho Tae-yul on the occasion of the first Strategic Dialogues with both countries.

My visit is a timely and important opportunity to discuss these worrying developments. They breach the most fundamental principles in international affairs to which the European Union and our friends in Japan and Republic of Korea are profoundly attached. Recent developments also show how interconnected the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are.

These discussions will be crucial to prepare the next Foreign Affairs Council on 18 November.