North Korea denies sending troops to Ukraine amid international condemnation

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A North Korean representative to the United Nations denied reports that Pyongyang had dispatched thousands of troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, calling the claims "groundless" amid a growing international outcry.

The comment was the first from a North Korean official since Seoul's spy agency said last week that Pyongyang had decided to send some 12,000 troops in support of Russia's war effort. The National Intelligence Service said it had evidence that North Korea had already dispatched 1,500 special forces troops to Vladivostok through a Russian navy transport ship.

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