Netherlands reprimands North Korea for sending soldiers to the Ukraine front line

The Netherlands is summoning the representative of North Korea to speak to him about sending North Korean soldiers to the front in Ukraine. That is "reprehensible and a violation of international law", says Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.

The Netherlands addressed the diplomatic scolding on Saturday to the so-called North Korean chargé d'affaires, who has an office in Switzerland. North Korea has not had an ambassador in the Netherlands for a long time.

The threatened deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia's war against Ukraine has raised major concerns among Ukraine's allies. At least 1,500 North Koreans have arrived in Russia, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed Friday after similar warnings by Ukraine and the United States, among others. South Korea previously estimated that some 3,000 troops had been transferred.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week, based on intelligence information, that he expected 10,000 North Korean soldiers to be sent to Russia to fight in the war, the Telegraaf reported.

Moscow and Pyongyang signed a comprehensive strategic partnership this summer. As Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at the beginning of the week, he considers any deployment of North Korean troops to be a matter for Moscow.

“The Netherlands is gravely concerned by reports of DPRK soldiers supporting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We strongly condemn this. It is an outrage and a serious violation of international law,” Veldkamp said on X.