If North Korea were to send troops to Ukraine to fight on Russia's behalf it would significantly escalate the conflict, NATO Chief Mark Rutte said on social media platform X on Monday.

Speaking in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said there was ample satellite and video evidence that North Korea was sending not only equipment to Russia, but also soldiers to be prepared for deployment.

North Korean soldiers have been filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground in Russia’s far east in what appears to confirm reports from South Korean intelligence services that 1,500 soldiers had been shipped over for military training.