President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that the decision to utilize North Korean troops is a matter for Russia alone. He emphasized that if Ukraine seeks NATO membership, Moscow reserves the right to take necessary actions to safeguard its security.

On Wednesday, the United States reported evidence indicating that North Korea has dispatched 3,000 troops to Russia, potentially for deployment in Ukraine, a development that Western nations view as a notable escalation in the conflict.

According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, the initial North Korean units trained in Russia have been stationed in the Kursk region, a border area where Ukrainian forces gained territory from Russia in August. Putin remarked to Russian state television, “When we need to make a decision, we will do so… It is our sovereign right to determine whether we will utilize these troops or not; this is our prerogative.”

Putin remarked that the West has consistently stated that Ukraine has the autonomy to determine its own security measures, whether that involves NATO or not. He emphasized that it would be beneficial for all parties, particularly for the West, to recognize the ineffectiveness of this stance in their dealings with Russia.

During his visit to Pyongyang in June, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un formalized a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. Article 4 of this agreement stipulates that if one party faces an armed attack from any state or coalition of states, the other party is obligated to provide immediate military and other forms of assistance using all available resources.

On Thursday, while Putin did not refute U.S. assertions regarding North Korea dispatching troops to Russia, he stated that it is ultimately up to Moscow to manage its defense obligations with Pyongyang. He also accused the West of exacerbating the conflict in Ukraine.